Water discharge device

Abstract

To provide a water discharge device capable of suppressing generation of torsion in a water supply path while making the device compact by reducing the depth in the front and rear direction.SOLUTION: A discharge device according to an embodiment includes a water discharge part, a water supply part, and a panel part. The water supply part supplies water to the water discharge part. The panel part is installed so as to face an installation surface. A storage space that stores at least a part of the water supply part is formed in between the panel part and the installation surface. The water supply part includes a plurality of water supply paths arranged in the storage space and having flexibility, and a guide part that bundles the plurality of water supply paths.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The disclosed embodiments relate to a water discharge device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a water discharge device that is installed on a wall surface, for example, in a toilet room (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a water discharge device, a water supply pipe that supplies water to the water discharge part is provided and housed on the front side of the wall, thereby eliminating the need for water supply work on the back side of the wall, for example, and improving workability (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-029124 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-345662 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the water discharge device described above, it is desirable to make it more compact by reducing the depth in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, it is conceivable to make the depth of the storage space thinner and more compact by, for example, dividing the water supply pipe into multiple water supply channels in the storage space where the water supply pipe is stored and merging the multiple water supply channels near the water discharge part.

[0005] However, with the above configuration, there is a risk that the multiple water supply channels may become disjointed and twist, etc., and there is room for improvement.

[0006] One aspect of the embodiment aims to provide a water discharge device that can be made compact by reducing the depth in the front-to-back direction while suppressing the occurrence of twisting in the water supply channel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A water discharge device according to one aspect of the embodiment comprises a water discharge section, a water supply section that supplies water to the water discharge section, and a panel section that is installed opposite an installation surface, wherein a storage space that accommodates at least a portion of the water supply section is formed between the panel section and the installation surface, and the water supply section is arranged within the storage space and comprises a plurality of flexible water supply channels and a guide section that bundles the plurality of water supply channels.

[0008] In this way, by providing the water supply unit with multiple water supply channels, the depth of the storage space can be made smaller and thinner than when, for example, a water supply pipe is configured to be stored. Therefore, the depth of the panel portion can be made smaller and thinner, and therefore the depth of the water discharge device can be made thinner and more compact. In addition, since the multiple water supply channels are flexible, the water supply channels can be easily handled during installation and maintenance, preventing a decrease in ease of installation and maintenance, thereby improving installation, etc.

[0009] Furthermore, because the water supply lines are flexible and there are multiple lines, there is a risk that the lines may become disjointed or tangled and twisted during construction or maintenance. In response to this, the water supply unit is provided with a guide unit that ties the multiple lines together, preventing the lines from becoming disjointed and twisting during construction or maintenance, for example. Furthermore, because the guide unit prevents the multiple lines from becoming twisted, the water supply lines can be easily handled during construction or maintenance, further improving workability.

[0010] The plurality of water supply channels are bundled and fixed by the guide portion so as to be parallel to each other in the left-right direction.

[0011] This allows the depth of the storage space in the front-to-back direction to be smaller and thinner than when, for example, multiple water supply channels are arranged in parallel in the front-to-back direction, which means the depth of the panel section can be made thinner, and therefore the depth of the water discharge device can be made thinner and more compact.

[0012] The water supply passage further comprises a connection portion connected to the water outlet portion, a bent portion having a bent shape from the connection portion toward the downstream side, and a straight portion having a straight shape from the bent portion toward the downstream side, and the guide portion is provided on at least the straight portion.

[0013] This allows the guide portion to properly guide the water supply channel. For example, if the guide portion were provided in a bent portion rather than a straight portion, the restoring force of the bent portion (e.g., the force that causes the bent portion to return to its original straight shape) could prevent the water supply channel from being guided to the intended position, causing the guide portion to hit the panel portion or the installation surface, potentially resulting in unnecessary force (load) acting on the water supply channel. In contrast, the guide portion is provided in a straight portion downstream from the bent portion, so the flexible water supply channel is properly guided to the intended position, thereby preventing unnecessary force from acting on the water supply channel.

[0014] The present invention is also characterized in that at least two guide portions are provided in the accommodation space.

[0015] This makes it possible to prevent twisting of the water supply line within the storage space. For example, because the storage space is between the panel unit and the installation surface, it is difficult to see from the outside, and if a twist occurs in the water supply line and causes poor water discharge, it may take a long time to discover the cause. In contrast, by providing at least two guide units within the storage space, it is possible to prevent twisting of the water supply line within the storage space, which is difficult to see from the outside.

[0016] The water supply device may further include a sensor section provided in the water discharge section, and the guide section may bundle and fix the plurality of water supply channels and the electric wires connected to the sensor section.

[0017] This makes it possible to prevent multiple water supply lines and electrical wires from becoming disjointed and twisting, for example, during construction or maintenance, making it easier to handle the water supply lines and electrical wires during construction or maintenance, and as a result, further improving construction efficiency, etc.

[0018] The electric wires are bundled and fixed by the guide portion so as to be parallel to the water supply channels in the left-right direction.

[0019] This allows the depth of the storage space in the front-to-rear direction to be smaller and thinner than when, for example, the electric wires and the multiple water supply channels are arranged in parallel in the front-to-rear direction, which allows the depth of the panel section to be smaller and thinner, thereby making the water discharge device thinner and more compact.

[0020] The electric wire is also characterized in that it is arranged between a plurality of the water supply channels.

[0021] This prevents the electric wires from becoming caught in unintended gaps during installation, for example. That is, during installation, for example, there is a risk that the water supply lines or electric wires may become caught in the gap between the panel unit and the installation location (e.g., a counter or installation surface). In this case, among the water supply lines and electric wires bundled by the guide unit, those located on the outside, closer to the gap between the panel unit and the installation location, are more likely to become caught. Here, for example, if the electric wires are located on the left-right outside of the water supply lines, the installer may not notice that the electric wires have been caught, and may only notice them when they gradually deteriorate and break, potentially delaying the discovery of improper installation. In contrast, since the electric wires are located between multiple water supply lines, they are farther from the gap between the panel unit and the installation location, preventing them from becoming caught in gaps. Furthermore, even if a water supply line located on the outside in the left-right direction becomes caught in a gap, the water supply line's flow path narrows, allowing the installer to visually recognize the poor water discharge, which reduces the flow rate from the water discharge unit. This allows the installer to discover improper installation early. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to one aspect of the embodiment, in the water discharge device, it is possible to reduce the depth in the front-to-rear direction to make it more compact, while suppressing the occurrence of twisting in the water supply channel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a water discharge device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the water discharge device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective rear view of the water discharge device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a VV diagram of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the guide portion. [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A is a diagram for explaining water supply channels and the like arranged in parallel. [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B is a diagram for explaining water supply channels and the like arranged in parallel. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an overall perspective view showing a water discharge device according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the water discharger disclosed in the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0025] (Embodiment) Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a water discharge device according to an embodiment. Note that Fig. 1 and the figures shown in Fig. 2 and thereafter are all schematic diagrams.

[0026] For ease of explanation, Fig. 1 illustrates a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system that defines mutually orthogonal X-, Y-, and Z-axis directions, with the positive Z-axis direction being the vertically upward direction. This Cartesian coordinate system may also be shown in other drawings used in the following explanation. In the following explanation, for example, based on the state when the water discharger 1 is installed, the positive X-axis direction in the Cartesian coordinate system may be described as "rightward," the negative X-axis direction as "leftward," the positive Y-axis direction as "forward" or "front side," the negative Y-axis direction as "rear" or "back side," the positive Z-axis direction as "upward," and the negative Z-axis direction as "downward."

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, water discharger 1 is a wall-mounted type and is installed on a wall surface W. Water discharger 1 is, for example, a hand-washing device installed on a wall surface W in a toilet room, but is not limited to this. In other words, water discharger 1 may also be installed on a wall surface in other locations, such as a washroom or kitchen. Wall surface W is an example of an installation surface.

[0028] Fig. 2 is a rear view of the water discharger 1, and Fig. 3 is an exploded rear perspective view of the water discharger 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 2. For ease of understanding, Fig. 4 also illustrates a wall surface W.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the water discharge device 1 comprises a hand wash basin 10, a counter 20, a water discharge section 30 (not visible in Figures 2 and 3), a panel section 40, a water supply section 50 (not visible in Figure 1), an electric wire 70 (not visible in Figures 1 and 4), and a fixing section 80 (not visible in Figure 1).

[0030] The hand washing basin 10 includes a water receiving portion 11. The water receiving portion 11 is formed, for example, in a bowl shape, and receives the water discharged from the water discharge portion 30. The water receiving portion 11 drains the received water through drain holes 12 (see Figures 2 to 4) into drain pipe 13 (see Figures 2 and 4) indicated by a dashed line. Note that the term "water" may refer to water at room temperature such as tap water, as well as hot water, a mixture of hot and cold water, cold water, etc.

[0031] Counter 20 is, for example, a plate-shaped member, and is provided below hand washing basin 10. Counter 20 is fixed to, for example, a wall surface W or a floor surface (not shown). Hand washing basin 10 is then placed on counter 20.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, water discharger 30 discharges water from outlet 31 toward hand-washing basin 10. For example, water discharger 30 is an automatic faucet. Specifically, water discharger 30 is equipped with a human body detection sensor 32, and automatically discharges water when it detects, for example, that a user's hand is placed near water discharger 30. Human body detection sensor 32 is an example of a sensor unit.

[0033] The panel portion 40 is formed, for example, in a flat plate shape. The panel portion 40 is, for example, a wooden plate material, and has a resin decorative panel on the front surface 40a side, but this is an example and is not limiting.

[0034] The panel portion 40 is positioned on the rear side (rear side, negative side of the Y axis) of the hand washing basin 10 and above the counter 20 (positive direction of the Z axis). In other words, the panel portion 40 is also the wall portion on the rear side of the hand washing basin 10. In addition, the water discharge portion 30 is provided (attached) on the front surface 40a of the panel portion 40, in other words, the surface facing the hand washing basin 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

[0035] Moreover, the panel part 40 is positioned and installed (fixed) so as to face the wall surface W, which is the installation surface. In the water discharge device 1 according to this embodiment, an accommodation space 60 that accommodates a part of the water supply part 50 is formed between the panel part 40 and the wall surface W, which is the installation surface.

[0036] Water supply section 50 is connected to water discharge section 30 and supplies water to water discharge section 30. Water supply section 50 and panel section 40 that forms storage space 60 will be described in detail later.

[0037] The electric wire 70 is connected to the human body detection sensor 32 provided in the water discharger 30. For example, the electric wire 70 includes a power supply line that supplies power to the human body detection sensor 32, and a signal line that transmits and receives signals between the human body detection sensor 32 and a solenoid valve 101 (see FIG. 2) described later. The electric wire 70 is configured such that the power supply line and signal line are housed in a flexible tube. The tube is made of, for example, resin, but is not limited to this. The electric wire 70 is housed in the housing space 60, similar to the water supply unit 50, which will be described later.

[0038] The fixing part 80 fixes the water discharger 30 to the panel part 40. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the fixing part 80 includes a fixing plate 81 and a bolt 82. The water discharger 30 is fixed to the panel part 40 by the fixing plate 81 and the bolt 82, which will be described later with reference to Figure 8.

[0039] Here, the water supply unit 50 will be described in detail. As described above, the water supply unit 50 is housed in the housing space 60 formed between the panel unit 40 and the wall surface W (see FIG. 4). That is, in this embodiment, the water supply unit 50 is provided on the front side of the wall surface W, which makes it possible to eliminate the need for water supply construction work on the back side of the wall surface W, for example. This makes it possible to install the water discharger 1 in a relatively short period of time and at low cost, thereby improving the ease of installation of the water discharger 1.

[0040] In addition, in this embodiment, by making the depth of the storage space 60 in the front-to-back direction (Y-axis direction) as small as possible, the depth Yd (see Figure 4) of the panel portion 40 is reduced and made thin, thereby making the water discharge device 1 compact.

[0041] More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, water supply section 50 includes water supply pipe 51, water supply channel 52, branch section 53, and confluence section 54 (see FIG. 4, shown as a block in FIG. 4).

[0042] Water supply pipe 51 is connected to a water supply source such as a water pipe (not shown) via stop valve 100 (shown as a block in FIG. 2) provided on wall W. A solenoid valve 101 (shown as a block in FIG. 2) for an automatic faucet is connected between water supply pipe 51 and stop valve 100. This solenoid valve 101 opens to open the flow path while a detection signal indicating, for example, that a user's hand has been placed near water discharge portion 30 is being output from human body detection sensor 32 (see FIG. 4) of water discharge portion 30, and closes to close the flow path when the output of the detection signal stops. Water supply pipe 51 is made of a flexible material (for example, a resin such as silicone), but the material is not limited to this.

[0043] There are a plurality of water supply channels 52 (for example, two), and they are connected to the downstream side of the water supply pipe 51 via a diverter 53. That is, the diverter 53 divertes the water from the water supply pipe 51 into a plurality of water supply channels 52.

[0044] Also, a confluence part 54 (see FIG. 4) is connected to the downstream side of the water supply path 52, and a water discharge port 31 of the water discharge part 30 is connected to the downstream side of the confluence part 54. That is, the confluence part 54 combines the water from the plurality of water supply paths 52. Then, the water that has converged in the confluence part 54 is discharged from the water discharge port 31 of the water discharge part 30. In the above description, the number of water supply paths 52 is two, but it is not limited thereto, and for example, three or more may be used.

[0045] As described above, it is assumed that the water supplied from the same water supply pipe 51 flows through the plurality of water supply paths 52. In other words, it is assumed that the water supplied from the same water supply system flows through the plurality of water supply paths 52, but it is not limited thereto.

[0046] Each of the plurality of water supply paths 52 is formed to be thinner than the upstream water supply pipe 51. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the plurality of water supply paths 52 is formed such that the outer dimension (outer diameter) A2 is smaller than the outer dimension (outer diameter) A1 of the water supply pipe 51 (A2 < A1). Here, the outer dimension A2 of the water supply path 52 is set to a value such that, for example, the total flow rate of the water flowing through the plurality of water supply paths 52 is the same as or equivalent to the flow rate of the water flowing through the upstream water supply pipe 51. Although all of the plurality of water supply paths 52 are set to the same outer dimension A2, it is not limited thereto, and a part or all of the plurality of water supply paths 52 may be set to have different outer dimensions from each other. [[ID=X]]

[0047] And, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and the like, the plurality of water supply paths 52 configured as described above are arranged in the accommodation space 60. Thereby, the depth of the accommodation space 60 can be made smaller and thinner compared to the case where, for example, the water supply pipe 51 is configured to be accommodated. Therefore, the depth Yd (see FIG. 4) of the panel part 40 can be made smaller and thinner, and thus the depth of the water discharge device 1 can be made thinner and compact.

[0048] Furthermore, in the water supply section 50 of this embodiment, by providing multiple (here, two) water supply passages 52 with an outer dimension A2 that is narrower than the water supply pipe 51, it is possible to discharge the water from the water discharge section 30 while maintaining the amount of water supplied from the water supply pipe 51, for example.

[0049] Here, for example, if the above-mentioned water supply line 52 were made of a highly rigid material such as a copper pipe, it would be difficult to handle the water supply line 52 when connecting it during construction or when removing it during maintenance, which could result in a decrease in construction and maintenance ease.

[0050] Therefore, each of the plurality of water supply channels 52 according to this embodiment is configured to have flexibility. Note that, for example, a tube made of resin (such as vinyl chloride or silicone) can be used as the water supply channel 52, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0051] In this way, the flexibility of the multiple water supply passages 52 makes it easier to handle the water supply passages 52 during construction and maintenance, which prevents a decrease in construction and maintenance efficiency, thereby further improving construction efficiency, etc.

[0052] However, as mentioned above, the water supply passages 52 are flexible and there are multiple of them, so there was a risk that the multiple water supply passages 52 would become separated or tangled and twisted during construction or maintenance.

[0053] Therefore, the water discharger 1 according to this embodiment is configured to be able to suppress the occurrence of twisting in the water supply passage 52.

[0054] This configuration will be described in detail below. The water supply unit 50 includes a guide portion 56 that bundles the plurality of water supply channels 52. The guide portion 56 can further bundle the electric wires 70 together with the plurality of water supply channels 52.

[0055] Specifically, there are multiple (for example, two) guide portions 56. In the following, guide portion 56a provided above water supply portion 50 (positive direction of the Z axis) may be referred to as the "first guide portion 56a," and guide portion 56b provided below (negative direction of the Z axis) may be referred to as the "second guide portion 56b," but when there is no need to distinguish between them, they will be referred to as "guide portion 56."

[0056] Fig. 5 is a VV diagram of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the guide portion 56 (more precisely, the first guide portion 56a) shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 6, for the sake of simplicity, power lines and signal lines are omitted from the electric wires 70 and are indicated by oblique lines.

[0057] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, etc., guide portion 56 is disposed within storage space 60. As shown in Figures 2 and 6, etc., guide portion 56 bundles multiple water supply channels 52 and electric wires 70 together and guides the multiple water supply channels 52 and electric wires 70 so that they extend in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

[0058] 6, the guide portion 56 includes a first fixing member 561, a second fixing member 562, a connecting portion 563, and a locking portion 564. Note that the guide portion 56 is made of, for example, resin, but is not limited to this and may be made of, for example, metal.

[0059] The first fixing member 561 is formed with a water supply channel groove 561a and an electric wire groove 561b. The water supply channel groove 561a is a portion where the water supply channel 52 is arranged, and is formed to have a curved shape that matches the outer shape of the water supply channel 52. The electric wire groove 561b is a portion where the electric wire 70 is arranged, and is formed to have a curved shape that matches the outer shape of the electric wire 70. The outer dimension (outer diameter) of the electric wire 70 is smaller than the outer dimension (outer diameter) of the water supply channel 52, but is not limited to this.

[0060] Two water supply channel grooves 561a are formed in the guide portion 56 because two (two) water supply channels 52 are arranged in the guide portion 56. One electric wire 70 is arranged in the guide portion 56, so one electric wire groove 561b is formed. The water supply channel groove 561a and the electric wire groove 561b are formed so as to be parallel to each other in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). More specifically, the electric wire groove 561b is formed side by side in the left-right direction so as to be between the multiple (here, two) water supply channel grooves 561a.

[0061] The second fixing member 562 is formed to have a shape corresponding to the first fixing member 561. For example, the second fixing member 562 is formed with a water supply channel groove 562a and an electric wire groove 562b. The water supply channel groove 562a is formed to have a curved shape that matches the outer shape of the water supply channel 52. The electric wire groove 562b is formed to have a curved shape that matches the outer shape of the electric wire 70. Two water supply channel grooves 562a and one electric wire groove 562b are formed in the guide portion 56. The water supply channel groove 562a and the electric wire groove 562b are formed to be parallel to each other in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). More specifically, the electric wire groove 562b is formed side by side in the left-right direction so as to be between multiple (here, two) water supply channel grooves 562a.

[0062] The connecting portion 563 connects the first fixing member 561 and the second fixing member 562. For example, the connecting portion 563 connects one end of the first fixing member 561 and one end of the second fixing member 562. Therefore, the other end of the first fixing member 561 and the other end of the second fixing member 562 are not connected, and therefore the first fixing member 561 and the second fixing member 562 can be opened and closed.

[0063] The locking portion 564 locks the first fixing member 561 and the second fixing member 562. For example, the locking portion 564 locks and fixes the other end of the first fixing member 561 and the other end of the second fixing member 562. Conversely, when the other ends of the first and second fixing members 561 and 562 are not locked by the locking portion 564, they are in an open state.

[0064] In guide portion 56 configured as described above, for example, with the other ends of first and second fixing members 561, 562 open, water supply passage 52 and electric wire 70 are inserted between first and second fixing members 561, 562. Water supply passage 52 and electric wire 70 inserted between first and second fixing members 561, 562 are arranged in corresponding water supply passage grooves 561a, 562a and electric wire grooves 561b, 562b, respectively. Then, first fixing member 561 and second fixing member 562 are locked by locking portion 564, allowing guide portion 56 to bundle multiple water supply passages 52 and electric wires 70 together, as shown in FIG. 6 .

[0065] As described above, the water supply unit 50 according to this embodiment is provided with a guide portion 56 that bundles (ties) the multiple water supply passages 52. This makes it possible to prevent the multiple water supply passages 52 from becoming disjointed and twisting, for example, during construction or maintenance. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the guide portion 56 prevents the multiple water supply passages 52 from becoming twisted, making it easier to handle the water supply passages 52 during construction or maintenance, further improving workability.

[0066] Furthermore, guide portion 56 according to this embodiment bundles (ties) and fixes multiple water supply passages 52 and electric wires 70. This makes it possible to prevent multiple water supply passages 52 and electric wires 70 from becoming disjointed and twisting during construction or maintenance, for example, and makes it easier to handle water supply passages 52 and electric wires 70 during construction or maintenance, thereby further improving workability, etc.

[0067] Furthermore, the multiple water supply channels 52 are bundled and fixed in parallel in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) by the guide section 56 configured as described above. This allows the depth of the storage space 60 in the front-to-rear direction (Y-axis direction) to be smaller and thinner than when, for example, the multiple water supply channels 52 are arranged in parallel in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, the depth Yd (see Figure 4) of the panel section 40 can be made smaller and thinner, and therefore the depth of the water discharger 1 can be made thinner and more compact.

[0068] Furthermore, the electric wires 70 are bundled and fixed by the guide portion 56 so as to be parallel to the multiple water supply channels 52 in the left-right direction. This allows the depth of the storage space 60 in the front-to-rear direction (Y-axis direction) to be smaller and thinner than when, for example, the electric wires 70 and the multiple water supply channels 52 are parallel to each other in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, the depth Yd (see Figure 4) of the panel portion 40 can be made smaller and thinner, and therefore the depth of the water discharger 1 can be made thinner and more compact.

[0069] Here, the multiple water supply channels 52 and electric wires 70 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction as described above, but they do not necessarily need to be arranged linearly in the left-right direction. This will be explained with reference to Figures 7A and 7B. Figures 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining the water supply channels 52 and electric wires 70 arranged in parallel. Note that Figure 7A is a schematic plan view of the multiple water supply channels 52 and electric wires 70 as viewed from above, and Figure 7B is a schematic side view of the multiple water supply channels 52 as viewed from the left-right direction (more precisely, as viewed from the negative side of the X-axis toward the positive side). Note that, for ease of understanding, one of the two water supply channels 52 will be designated by the reference numeral 521 and the other water supply channel 52 will be designated by the reference numeral 522.

[0070] First, the parallel arrangement of one water supply channel 521 and the other water supply channel 522 will be described. As shown by the solid line in FIG. 7A, one water supply channel 521 and the other water supply channel 522 are arranged linearly side by side in the left-right direction (X-axis direction), but this is not limited to this. That is, as shown by the dashed dotted line in FIG. 7A, for example, one water supply channel 521 and the other water supply channel 522 may be arranged offset in the front-to-back direction (Y-axis direction). More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7B, one water supply channel 521 and the other water supply channel 522 may be arranged parallel to each other in the left-to-right direction so that at least a portion of them overlap in a side view. Note that in FIG. 7B, for ease of understanding, the overlapping portion F of one water supply channel 521 and the other water supply channel 522 is indicated by a dot.

[0071] In this way, if one water supply channel 521 and the other water supply channel 522 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction so that they overlap at least partially when viewed from the side, as described above, the depth Yd (see Figure 4) of the panel portion 40 can be reduced, thereby making the water discharge device 1 more compact.

[0072] Next, the parallel arrangement of water supply channels 521, 522 and electric wire 70 will be described. As shown by the solid lines in Fig. 7A, water supply channels 521, 522 and electric wire 70 are arranged linearly side by side in the left-right direction (X-axis direction), but this is not limited to this. That is, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 7A, for example, water supply channels 521, 522 and electric wire 70 may be arranged offset in the front-to-back direction (Y-axis direction). That is, although not shown in the drawings, it is sufficient that water supply channels 521, 522 and electric wire 70 are arranged parallel to each other in the left-to-right direction so that at least a portion of them overlap in a side view.

[0073] Preferably, the electric wire 70 is arranged parallel to the water supply passages 521, 522 in the left-right direction, so as to be located between the front ends 521a, 522a of the outer diameter of the water supply passages 521, 522 and the rear ends 521b, 522b of the water supply passages 521, 522 (for example, in Figure 7A, between the range D1 when the other water supply passage 522 is in the position shown by the solid line, and between the range D2 when the other water supply passage 522 is in the position shown by the dotted line).

[0074] In this way, if the water supply passages 521, 522 and the electric wire 70 are arranged in parallel, as described above, the depth Yd (see FIG. 4) of the panel portion 40 can be reduced, and therefore the water discharger 1 can be made compact.

[0075] 2, the explanation of the guide portion 56, the water supply passages 52, the electric wires 70, etc. will be continued. As shown in FIG.

[0076] This prevents the electric wire 70 from being caught in an unintended gap during installation, for example. That is, for example, during installation, there is a risk that the water supply conduit 52 or the electric wire 70 may be caught in a gap between the panel unit 40 and the installation location (e.g., the counter 20 or the wall W). In this case, among the water supply conduits 52 and the electric wires 70 bundled by the guide unit 56, those located on the outside, closer to the gap between the panel unit 40 and the installation location, are more likely to be caught. Here, for example, if the electric wire 70 is located outside the water supply conduit 52 in the left-right direction, the installer may not notice that the electric wire 70 has been caught, and may only notice that the electric wire 70 has gradually deteriorated and broken, which may delay the discovery of a defective installation. In contrast, in this embodiment, the electric wire 70 is located between multiple water supply conduits 52, so that it is far from the gap between the panel unit 40 and the installation location, thereby preventing the electric wire 70 from being caught in a gap. Furthermore, even if the water supply passage 52, which is located on the outside in the left-right direction, gets caught in a gap, the flow path of the water supply passage 52 narrows, allowing the installer to visually recognize poor water discharge, which results in a decrease in the flow rate discharged from the water discharge section 30, and therefore allows for early detection of poor construction.

[0077] Furthermore, as described above, the outer dimensions (outer diameter) of the electric wire 70 are smaller than the outer dimensions (outer diameter) of the water supply passage 52. Therefore, by arranging the electric wire 70, which has an outer diameter smaller than that of the water supply passage 52, in other words, the electric wire 70 that is more likely to be pinched in a gap, on the inside rather than the outside where it is more likely to be pinched (by arranging it between the water supply passages 52 with larger outer diameters), it is possible to further prevent the electric wire 70 from being pinched in a gap.

[0078] Next, the number and mounting positions of the guide portions 56 will be described. At least two guide portions 56 are provided in the storage space 60, in other words, multiple guide portions 56 are provided. In more detail, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the first guide portion 56a is provided above the storage space 60 (positive Z-axis direction) near the water discharge portion 30, and the second guide portion 56b is provided near the center of the storage space 60 in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction).

[0079] In this manner, in this embodiment, by providing at least two guide portions 56 in the storage space 60, it is possible to suppress twisting of the water supply channel 52 within the storage space 60. That is, for example, the storage space 60 is between the panel portion 40 and the wall surface W, making it difficult to see from the outside, and if twisting or the like occurs in the water supply channel 52 and causes poor water discharge, it may take a long time to discover the cause. In this embodiment, by providing at least two guide portions 56 within the storage space 60, it is possible to suppress twisting of the water supply channel 52 within the storage space 60, which is difficult to see from the outside.

[0080] Both the first and second guide portions 56a, 56b are provided (attached) to a linear portion of the water supply passage 52. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the water supply passage 52 includes a connection portion 52a, a bent portion 52b, and a straight portion 52c. The connection portion 52a is connected to the water spouter 30, or more precisely, to the water outlet 31 of the water spouter 30 via a junction portion 54. The bent portion 52b has a bent shape extending downstream from the connection portion 52a, and is a portion that passes through the interior of the water spouter 30 and the storage space 60. The straight portion 52c has a linear shape extending downstream from the bent portion 52b, and is a portion that passes through the storage space 60 in the up-and-down direction (Z-axis direction). The first and second guide portions 56a, 56b are provided to this straight portion 52c.

[0081] This allows guide portion 56 (first and second guide portions 56a, 56b) to properly guide water supply passage 52. In other words, for example, if first guide portion 56a were provided on bent portion 52b instead of straight portion 52c, the restoring force of bent portion 52b (e.g., the force that bent portion 52b tries to return to its original straight shape) would prevent water supply passage 52 from being guided to the intended position, and as a result, first guide portion 56a would hit panel portion 40 or wall surface W, which could result in unnecessary force (load) acting on water supply passage 52. In this embodiment, guide portion 56 (e.g., first and second guide portions 56a, 56b (more specifically, first guide portion 56a)) is provided on straight portion 52c located downstream from bent portion 52b. This allows flexible water supply passage 52 to be properly guided to the intended position, and as a result, unnecessary force acting on water supply passage 52 can be suppressed.

[0082] Although the above example shows the case where there are two guide portions 56, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the number of guide portions 56 may be, for example, one, or three or more, but it is preferable that there are at least two.

[0083] Next, a detailed description will be given of panel section 40, which forms storage space 60 in which water supply section 50 is stored. As shown in Figure 2, water supply section 50 is installed on rear surface 40b of panel section 40. Note that rear surface 40b of panel section 40 is the surface facing wall surface W (see Figure 4), which is the installation surface.

[0084] As shown in Fig. 2, a water supply unit installation area 41 and a non-water supply unit installation area 42 are formed on the back surface 40b of the panel unit 40. For ease of understanding, in Fig. 2, the water supply unit installation area 41 is shown surrounded by a dashed line, and the non-water supply unit installation area 42 is shown surrounded by a broken line.

[0085] A storage space 60 is formed in water supply unit installation area 41 of panel unit 40, and water supply unit 50 is housed and installed in this storage space 60. A non-water supply unit installation area 42 of panel unit 40 is a portion where storage space 60 is not formed and where water supply unit 50 is not installed. Specifically, non-water supply unit installation area 42 is configured to have a portion that protrudes from water supply unit installation area 41 toward wall surface W, which is the installation surface. More specifically, non-water supply unit installation area 42 is configured to protrude by a depth B toward wall surface W from surface 41a facing wall surface W in water supply unit installation area 41 (see Figure 5).

[0086] As a result, in the panel portion 40 of this embodiment, by accommodating the water supply portion 50 in the storage space 60 of the water supply portion installation area 41, the depth Yd (see Figure 4) can be reduced and the water discharge device 1 can be made compact, and in the water supply portion non-installation area 42, the plate thickness can be ensured by having a portion that protrudes toward the wall surface W, which is the installation surface, and as a result, the strength of the entire panel portion 40 can be improved.

[0087] Next, we will explain the storage space 60 in water supply unit installation area 41. Water supply unit installation area 41 is provided with a recess 43 extending in the vertical direction. In other words, water supply unit installation area 41 has a countersunk shape. This recess 43 forms storage space 60 between panel portion 40 and wall surface W, and water supply unit 50 is stored in this storage space 60.

[0088] As a result, water supply section 50 is housed within recess 43 that extends in the vertical direction, and therefore water supply section 50 can be guided in the vertical direction, for example, during construction. In addition, recess 43 has a shape that extends in the vertical direction without curving in the left-right direction, for example, and therefore twisting of water supply channel 52 within recess 43 can be suppressed.

[0089] Furthermore, since the water supply section 50 housed within the recess 43 is made up of multiple flexible water supply passages 52, they are prone to becoming distorted and twisting, but because they are housed within the recess 43 as described above, the multiple water supply passages 52 can be guided in the vertical direction while preventing the multiple water supply passages 52 from becoming distorted and twisting, for example, during construction.

[0090] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the water supply passages 52 are housed in the housing space 60 in the recess 43 so as to be aligned in parallel in the left-right direction.

[0091] This allows the depth of the storage space 60 in the recess 43 in the front-to-rear direction (Y-axis direction) to be smaller and thinner than when, for example, multiple water supply channels 52 are arranged in parallel in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, the depth Yd (see FIG. 4) of the panel portion 40 can be made smaller and thinner, and therefore the depth of the water discharger 1 can be made thinner and more compact.

[0092] The electric wire 70 is also housed in the housing space 60 in the recess 43 so as to be parallel to the multiple water supply channels 52 in the left-right direction. This allows the depth of the housing space 60 in the front-to-rear direction (Y-axis direction) to be smaller and thinner than when, for example, the electric wire 70 and the multiple water supply channels 52 are parallel to each other in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, the depth Yd (see Figure 4) of the panel portion 40 can be made smaller and thinner, and therefore the depth of the water discharger 1 can be made thinner and more compact.

[0093] To explain the configuration of the recess 43 in more detail, the recess 43 includes a first recess 43a and a second recess 43b. The first recess 43a is formed linearly so as to extend upward (in the positive direction of the Z axis) from the lower end of the panel portion 40.

[0094] The second recess 43b is formed so as to be continuous with the upper end of the first recess 43a. As shown in Fig. 3, the second recess 43b is formed so as to have a wider width in the left-right direction than the first recess 43a. Specifically, the width C2 of the second recess 43b in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) is set so as to be wider than the width C1 of the first recess 43a in the left-right direction (C2>C1).

[0095] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure 2, and specifically an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of second recess 43b. As shown in Figure 8, second recess 43b is formed in a position on panel portion 40 corresponding to the position where water discharger 30 is fixed. In other words, second recess 43b is formed on back surface 40b of panel portion 40, in a position opposite the position on front surface 40a where water discharger 30 is fixed.

[0096] Then, in the second recess 43b, the fixing part 80 fixes the water discharger 30 to the panel part 40. Specifically, the fixing plate 81 of the fixing part 80 is a plate-shaped member having a width smaller than the width C2 (see FIG. 3) of the second recess 43b, and is shaped to fit into the second recess 43b. The fixing plate 81 is formed with an insertion hole 81a through which a bolt 82 can be inserted. Furthermore, the water discharger 30 is formed with a screw hole 33 corresponding to the bolt 82.

[0097] As an example of the procedure for fixing water discharger 30, first, water discharger 30 is placed in a position to be fixed on front surface 40a of panel portion 40. At this time, water supply unit 50 and electric wires 70 extending from water discharger 30 are pulled out to the back surface 40b side through through-hole 44 of panel portion 40. Next, fixing plate 81 is fitted into second recess 43b, and in this state bolt 82 is inserted through insertion hole 81a and screw hole 33 of fixing plate 81 and fastened, thereby fixing water discharger 30 to panel portion 40. In other words, water discharger 30 is fixed to panel portion 40 so that the panel portion 40 is sandwiched between water discharger 30 and fixing plate 81.

[0098] As described above, the second recess 43b in this embodiment is formed so that it has a wider width in the left-right direction than the first recess 43a, so that a wider fixing range for the water-discharging portion 30 (in other words, the contact area between the panel portion 40 and the fixing plate 81) can be secured, thereby distributing the load acting on the water-discharging portion 30 and, as a result, preventing the water-discharging portion 30 from falling off or damage to the panel portion 40.

[0099] As described above, the water discharger 1 according to the embodiment comprises a water discharger 30, a water supply unit 50, and a panel unit 40. The water supply unit 50 supplies water to the water discharger 30. The panel unit 40 is installed facing the installation surface (wall W). A storage space 60 is formed between the panel unit 40 and the installation surface to accommodate at least a portion of the water supply unit 50. The water supply unit 50 comprises a plurality of flexible water supply channels 52 arranged within the storage space 60, and a guide unit 56 that bundles the plurality of water supply channels 52. This makes it possible to reduce the depth of the water discharger 1 in the front-to-rear direction and make it more compact, while suppressing twisting in the water supply channels 52.

[0100] Moreover, the water discharger 1 according to the embodiment comprises a water discharger 30, a water supply unit 50, and a panel unit 40. The water supply unit 50 supplies water to the water discharger 30. The panel unit 40 is installed facing the installation surface (wall surface W). A water supply unit installation area 41 and a water supply unit non-installation area 42 are formed on the back surface 40b of the panel unit 40 that faces the installation surface. The water supply unit installation area 41 defines a storage space 60 that accommodates at least a portion of the water supply unit 50. The water supply unit non-installation area 42 has a portion that protrudes toward the installation surface beyond the water supply unit installation area 41. This allows the water discharger 1 to be made more compact by reducing the depth in the front-to-rear direction, while improving the strength of the panel unit 40.

[0101] (Variation) Next, a modified example will be described. In the following description, the same reference numerals will be used to designate the same parts as those already described, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0102] Fig. 9 is an overall perspective view showing a water discharger 1 according to a modified example. As shown in Fig. 9, in the water discharger 1 according to the modified example, for example, the panel part 40, the counter 20, etc. are configured to be wide in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). As an example, the panel part 40, the counter 20, etc. are formed over the entire wall surface W of the toilet room in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). The counter 20 according to the modified example is, for example, the top plate of the cabinet 110.

[0103] In this way, even if the width of the panel portion 40 is formed to be relatively wide, by forming the above-mentioned water supply unit installation area 41 and water supply unit non-installation area 42 (see Figure 2) in the panel portion 40, it is possible to make the water discharge device 1 more compact by reducing the depth in the front-to-back direction while improving the strength of the panel portion 40.

[0104] In the above-described embodiment and modified example, storage space 60 is configured to accommodate a portion of water supply unit 50, but this is not limited to this and storage space 60 may accommodate the entire water supply unit 50. In other words, storage space 60 only needs to accommodate at least a portion of water supply unit 50.

[0105] Furthermore, in the above example, the water discharger 30 of the water discharger 1 is an automatic faucet, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be a manual faucet.

[0106] 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]

[0107] 1. Water discharge device 30 Water outlet 40 Panel section 41 Water supply installation area 42 Water supply area non-installation area 50 Water supply section 52 Water supply channel 56 Guide part 60 Containment Space

Claims

1. A water outlet section; a water supply unit that supplies water to the water discharge unit; a panel portion that is installed so as to be substantially parallel to and face a wall surface that is an installation surface; Equipped with a water supply unit installation area and a water supply unit non-installation area are provided on a surface of the panel portion facing the wall surface, The non-water supply unit installation area is formed so as to protrude toward the wall surface side beyond the water supply unit installation area, The water supply unit installation area has a storage space formed therein that stores at least a portion of the water supply unit, The water supply unit is a plurality of flexible water supply channels disposed within the accommodation space; a guide portion that bundles the plurality of water supply channels; A water discharge device comprising:

2. The plurality of water supply channels include: The guide parts are bundled and fixed so that they are aligned in the left-right direction. The water discharge device according to claim 1 .

3. The water supply channel is A connection portion connected to the water discharge portion; a bent portion having a bent shape from the connection portion toward the upstream side; a linear portion having a linear shape from the bent portion toward the upstream side; Equipped with The guide portion is be provided at least on the straight portion The water discharge device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

4. The guide portion is At least two of the storage spaces are provided. The water discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that

5. A sensor section provided in the water discharge section Equipped with The guide portion is A plurality of the water supply channels and the electric wires connected to the sensor unit are bundled and fixed. The water discharge device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that

6. The electric wire is The plurality of water supply channels are bundled and fixed by the guide portion so as to be parallel to each other in the left-right direction. The water discharge device according to claim 5,

7. The electric wire is be disposed between a plurality of said water supply channels; The water discharge device according to claim 6,

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