Kitchen drain plug device

Abstract

To provide a drain plug device for a kitchen, that allows foreign matter to smoothly flow into a collection basket while making it possible to easily switch an open / closed state of an exhaust port.SOLUTION: A drain plug device 1 comprises: a recess part forming part 102; a plug cover side mechanism part 4; and a plug cover 7 provided with an annular packing part 72, wherein the recess part forming part 102 has an inflow entrance forming surface 103. The plug cover side mechanism part 4 is capable of maintaining the plug cover 7 in a stopped state at a predetermined basic open position. Further, a predetermined surface of the inflow entrance forming surface 103 has a tapered surface shape with a constant inclination angle or a downwardly concave curved surface shape. Furthermore, when the plug cover 7 is placed at a basic open position, a top surface of a cover part 71 is flush with the top surface of a base part 101, further, a distance along a horizontal direction from a packing part 72 to the inflow entrance forming surface 103 is set to be greater than or equal to the distance along a vertical direction from a vertically closest part to the inflow entrance forming surface 103.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drain plug device for a kitchen provided corresponding to a recess into which drainage flows.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for a kitchen sink, a recess into which drainage flows is formed, and corresponding to the recess, a collection basket for accommodating foreign matters (for example, food waste, etc.) is widely provided. Further, in order to improve the appearance, etc., a cover (drain lid) for making it difficult to visually recognize foreign matters in the collection basket from the outside may be provided in the recess (see, for example, Patent Document 1, etc.). The above cover does not have a function of opening and closing the drain outlet of the sink at the bottom side of the recess, and generally the drain outlet is always in an open state.

[0003] By the way, for example, due to reasons such as performing soaking washing, there may be a case where it is desired to store water in the sink with the drain outlet in a closed state. Therefore, for example, a sheet-like plug lid (for example, a water stop cap, etc.) for closing the drain outlet is separately prepared, and it is conceivable to close the drain outlet by setting the plug lid so as to block the recess (see, for example, Patent Document 2, etc.).

[0004] However, when using such a sheet-like plug lid, each time it is desired to switch the open / closed state of the drain outlet, an operation such as setting and removing the plug lid must be performed. Therefore, the operation related to switching the open / closed state of the drain outlet becomes troublesome and time-consuming. Further, it is not easily possible to appropriately manage the removed plug lid, and in the worst case, there is a risk of losing the plug lid. Furthermore, the plug lid may have foreign matters or dirt attached thereto, and when switching the open / closed state of the drain outlet, touching the plug lid with attached foreign matters, etc. or placing it outside the sink is not preferable in terms of convenience and hygiene.

[0005] Therefore, it is conceivable to apply drain plug devices, which are installed in bathtubs and washbasins, to kitchen sinks. The drain plug device has a stopper cover that can be moved up and down, and the open and closed state of the drain is switched by remotely operating this stopper cover (see, for example, Patent Document 3). By applying such a drain plug device to the sink, the work involved in switching the open and closed state of the drain becomes extremely easy, and the management of the stopper cover becomes unnecessary, preventing the loss of the stopper cover. In addition, since it becomes unnecessary to touch the stopper cover or to place the stopper cover outside the sink when switching the open and closed state of the drain, it is possible to improve convenience and hygiene. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-32001 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3230140 Gazette [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-29738 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, if the drain plug device described above is simply applied to a sink, the plug cover, especially the packing part on the outer circumference of the plug cover, may get in the way, potentially preventing foreign matter from smoothly flowing into the collection basket.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a kitchen drain stopper device that allows for easy switching of the open and closed state of the drain outlet, while also enabling the smooth flow of foreign matter into the collection basket. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Below, we will describe, in separate sections, each means suitable for achieving the above objectives. Furthermore, we will add notes on the effects and benefits specific to each means as needed.

[0010] Means 1. A recessed part formed in a kitchen sink, having an inlet space opening upward and a basket placement space continuous with the inlet space and located below the inlet space, and a drain opening communicating with the recess formed at the bottom, A stopper cover having a plate-shaped cover portion with an annular packing portion on its outer circumference, A rod-shaped support shaft that can move vertically, A collection basket having a basket body located below the lid and having a recessed collection space, and a basket-side cylindrical portion through which the support shaft can be inserted, and being placed in the basket arrangement space and capable of accommodating foreign matter that flows into the inlet space in the collection space, The system includes a stopper cover side mechanism that can move the stopper cover up and down by directly or indirectly applying driving force to a portion of the support shaft located below the collection basket through the basket-side cylindrical portion of the support shaft, The inlet forming surface, which is the surface of the recess forming portion that forms the inlet space, has a shape that gradually approaches the support shaft side toward the downward direction. A kitchen drain plug device is configured such that, as the plug cover moves downward, the packing portion comes into contact with the inlet forming surface, causing the drain to close, and as the plug cover moves upward, the packing portion separates from the inlet forming surface, causing the drain to open. The aforementioned stopper cover side mechanism is capable of maintaining the stopper cover in a fixed state at a predetermined basic open position when the drain port is open. Of the packing portion, when the plug cover is positioned in the basic open position, the portion that is located vertically above the inlet forming surface and is closest to the inlet forming surface in the vertical direction is configured to be located above the center in the vertical direction of the inlet forming surface. Of the inlet forming surface, when the plug cover is positioned in the basic open position, the surface between the portion located at the same height as the packing portion and closest to the packing portion in the horizontal direction, and the portion located vertically below the packing portion and closest to the packing portion in the vertical direction, has a tapered surface shape with a constant inclination angle or a curved surface shape that is recessed downward. A kitchen drain plug device characterized in that, when the plug cover is positioned in the basic open position, the upper surface of the cover is flush with the upper surface of the sink base that is continuous with the upper part of the recess forming portion, and the distance in the horizontal direction from the packing portion to the inlet forming surface is greater than or equal to the distance in the vertical direction from the closest vertical point to the inlet forming surface.

[0011] According to the above-described method 1, the stopper cover mechanism directly or indirectly applies driving force to the support shaft inserted through the basket-side cylinder, thereby moving the stopper cover up and down and switching the open / closed state of the drain outlet. Consequently, the work involved in switching the open / closed state of the drain outlet becomes extremely easy, and the management of the stopper cover becomes unnecessary, preventing its loss. Furthermore, when switching the open / closed state of the drain outlet, there is no need to touch the stopper cover or place the stopper cover outside the sink, improving convenience and hygiene.

[0012] Furthermore, according to the above means 1, when the drain is open, the stopper cover can be kept in a stationary state at a predetermined basic open position. When the stopper cover is positioned in the basic open position, the upper surface of the cover is flush with the upper surface of the sink base that is continuous with the upper part of the recessed portion. In other words, when the stopper cover is positioned in the basic open position, the upper surface of the cover and the upper surface of the base are at approximately the same height (for example, the difference in height between the two upper surfaces is within a few millimeters). Therefore, compared to the case where the upper surface of the cover protrudes from the upper surface of the base, the stopper cover is less likely to get in the way when placing dishes or cooking utensils in the sink, thus improving convenience. In addition, the stopper cover makes it more difficult to see foreign objects in the collection basket, and the device as a whole has a more cohesive appearance, thus further improving its aesthetics.

[0013] In addition, according to the above-described means 1, when the stopper cap is positioned in the basic open position, the vertically closest portion of the packing is located vertically above the inlet forming surface and is the portion closest to the inlet forming surface in the vertical direction, and is configured to be located above the vertical center of the inlet forming surface. Therefore, when the stopper cap is positioned in the basic open position, a relatively large vertical distance can be secured from the inlet forming surface to the vertically closest portion. As a result, when the stopper cap is positioned in the basic open position, a relatively large area can be secured for the opening (referred to as the "lower opening") formed between the vertically closest portion and the inlet forming surface below the packing. Consequently, even when the stopper cap is positioned in the basic open position, foreign matter such as food waste can easily pass through the lower opening smoothly.

[0014] Furthermore, when the stopper cap is positioned in the basic open position, the horizontal distance (shortest distance) from the packing portion to the inlet forming surface is set to be greater than or equal to the vertical distance from the closest vertical point to the inlet forming surface, which is relatively large as described above. Therefore, a large area of ​​the opening formed between the inlet forming surface and the packing portion (referred to as the "lateral opening") can be secured on the side of the packing portion. As a result, even when the stopper cap is positioned in the basic open position, foreign objects such as food waste can easily pass through the lateral opening smoothly.

[0015] Furthermore, when the plug cover is in the basic open position, the surface between the portion of the inlet forming surface that is at least at the same height as the packing portion and is closest to the packing portion horizontally, and the portion that is vertically below the packing portion and is closest to the packing portion vertically, is a tapered surface with a constant inclination angle or a curved surface that is concave downwards. In other words, the surface of the inlet forming surface that corresponds to the path from the lateral opening to the lower opening is not a curved surface that is convex upwards, but rather a tapered surface with a constant inclination angle or a curved surface that is concave downwards. As a result, the distance between the surface of the inlet forming surface that corresponds to the path from the lateral opening to the lower opening and the packing portion (the cross-sectional area of ​​the space through which foreign matter passes) can be made larger, making it easier for foreign matter to flow down more smoothly from the lateral opening to the lower opening.

[0016] As described above, the areas of the lateral and lower openings are each large, and at least the surface of the inlet forming surface corresponding to the path from the lateral opening to the lower opening is tapered or curved downwards. This allows foreign matter such as food waste that flows into the inlet space to pass smoothly through the lateral opening, flow smoothly down from the lateral opening to the lower opening, and then smoothly pass through the lower opening to easily reach the collection basket. This makes it possible to ensure the smooth flow of foreign matter into the collection basket while providing a stopper cover for opening and closing the drain.

[0017] In terms of further improving the appearance, when the plug lid is disposed at the basic open position, the horizontal distance from the packing portion to the inlet forming surface is configured to be not more than twice the vertical distance from the vertically closest portion to the inlet forming surface, so that the area of the lateral opening in plan view is not excessively large.

[0018] Means 2. A hanging cylinder portion having a cylindrical shape extending downward is provided at the central portion of the lid portion. The hanging cylinder portion is disposed on the outer periphery of the cage-side cylinder portion and is configured to move along the outer peripheral surface of the cage-side cylinder portion when the plug lid moves up and down. The plug lid is installed in a state where the lid portion is placed on the upper portion of the support shaft. By pulling up the plug lid, the hanging cylinder portion is removed from the outer periphery of the cage-side cylinder portion, and the plug lid can be removed from the support shaft. In a state where the plug lid is removed from the support shaft, by pulling up the collection cage, the cage-side cylinder portion is removed from the outer periphery of the support shaft, and the collection cage can be removed from the cage arrangement space. The kitchen drain plug device according to means 1, characterized in that.

[0019] According to the above means 2, the plug lid and the collection cage can be removed extremely easily. Therefore, the treatment (such as garbage disposal) of foreign matters collected in the collection cage can be performed simply. In addition, since the plug lid and the collection cage can be cleaned independently, the convenience and hygiene can be further improved.

[0020] Furthermore, when removing the collection cage, since the cage-side cylinder portion can be used as a "handle" and the hanging cylinder portion is disposed on the outer periphery of the cage-side cylinder portion (that is, the outer periphery of the cage-side cylinder portion is covered by the hanging cylinder portion), it is possible to effectively suppress the adhesion of foreign matters and dirt to the cage-side cylinder portion. Therefore, by using the cage-side cylinder portion as a "handle", it is possible to more surely prevent foreign matters and dirt from adhering to the hand when removing the collection cage, and the convenience and hygiene can be further enhanced.

[0021] Also, when the plug lid moves up and down, the hanging cylinder part moves along the outer peripheral surface of the basket side cylinder part having a larger diameter than the support shaft, so that the inclination of the plug lid (the inclination of the central axis of the plug lid with respect to the support shaft) can be effectively suppressed.

[0022] Means 3. The collection basket is installed in a state where rotation along the circumferential direction of the support shaft is restricted. The kitchen drain plug device according to Means 2, further comprising plug lid rotation restricting means for restricting rotation of the hanging cylinder part with respect to the basket side cylinder part.

[0023] According to the above Means 3, the rotation of the plug lid can be restricted by the plug lid rotation restricting means. Therefore, when the drain opening is in an open state, it is possible to more reliably prevent the plug lid from rotating unintentionally due to the influence of drainage or the like. Thereby, the appearance can be further improved.

[0024] Also, when the plug lid or the like has a non-circular shape in plan view (for example, a rectangular shape in plan view), when closing the drain opening, the packing part can be brought into appropriate contact with the inlet forming surface without the user adjusting the position of the plug lid or the like. Thereby, good water tightness can be more reliably obtained without causing a decrease in convenience. Further, when the drain opening is in an open state, since the orientation of the plug lid is kept constant, the orientations of the plug lid and the recess can be maintained in a matched state, and better aesthetics and foreign matter passing performance (collection performance) can be obtained.

[0025] Means 4. A flange-shaped part protruding outward is formed at the upper part of the basket main body part. The recess forming part has a placement surface on which the flange-shaped part is placed, and a rising surface that rises upward from the outer edge part of the placement surface and is continuous with the inlet forming surface. When the flange-shaped portion is placed on the mounting surface, the upper surface of the flange-shaped portion is positioned at the same height as or below the highest point of the rising surface, and the outer peripheral surface of the flange-shaped portion is in contact with or close to the rising surface. The kitchen drain plug device according to means 2, characterized in that the upper end of the basket-side cylindrical portion is located at the same height as or above the upper part of the basket body portion.

[0026] According to the above means 4, when the flange-shaped portion is placed on the surface to be mounted, the upper surface of the flange-shaped portion is at the same height as or below the highest point of the rising surface, and the outer circumferential surface of the flange-shaped portion is in contact with or close to the rising surface. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent foreign matter flowing along the inlet forming surface from getting caught on the flange-shaped portion. As a result, it is possible to achieve a smoother flow of foreign matter into the collection basket.

[0027] Furthermore, according to the above-described means 4, the flange portion is in the state described above, making it difficult to use the flange portion as a "handle" when removing the collection basket from the basket placement space. On the other hand, the upper end of the basket-side cylindrical portion is at the same height as or above the upper part of the basket body, making it easier to use the basket-side cylindrical portion as a "handle". Therefore, when removing the collection basket from the basket placement space, the user can naturally use the basket-side cylindrical portion, which is covered by the hanging cylindrical portion and is less prone to dirt and grime, as a "handle" rather than the flange portion, which is relatively prone to dirt and grime. As a result, convenience and hygiene can be further improved.

[0028] Means 5. The lid portion is, A lid base portion is placed on the aforementioned support shaft, The device comprises the aforementioned hanging cylindrical portion, and a detachable portion having a plate-shaped protrusion that extends outward from the upper part of the hanging cylindrical portion and is configured to be detachably attached to the lid base portion. The kitchen drain plug device according to means 2, characterized in that, after removing the detachable part from the lid base part and positioning the hanging cylindrical part of the detachable part on the outer circumference of the basket-side cylindrical part, the detachable part is moved so that the hanging cylindrical part moves along the outer surface of the basket-side cylindrical part, thereby allowing the protruding part to enter the collection space.

[0029] According to the above method 5, the lid base and the detachable part can be separated, and both can be cleaned individually. Therefore, convenience and hygiene can be further improved.

[0030] Furthermore, according to the above means 5, with the hanging cylindrical portion of the detachable part removed from the lid base portion positioned on the outer circumference of the basket-side cylindrical portion, the detachable part is moved so that the hanging cylindrical portion moves along the outer surface of the basket-side cylindrical portion, thereby allowing the protruding portion to enter the collection space (i.e., the space in which foreign matter is contained). As a result, when processing the foreign matter collected in the collection basket (e.g., disposing of it), the foreign matter can be compressed by the protruding portion and the moisture contained in the foreign matter can be removed without directly touching the foreign matter with one's hands. Therefore, convenience and hygiene can be further enhanced.

[0031] Alternatively, the detachable part removed from the lid base can be inverted, the hanging cylindrical part of the detachable part can be positioned on the outer circumference of the basket-side cylindrical part, and then the detachable part can be moved so that the hanging cylindrical part moves along the outer surface of the basket-side cylindrical part, thereby allowing the protruding part to enter the collection space (i.e., the space in which foreign matter is contained). In this case, since the hanging cylindrical part is positioned on the opposite side from the collection basket, the hanging cylindrical part does not get in the way, and the protruding part can be inserted more widely into the collection space. Therefore, the foreign matter can be compressed more strongly by the protruding part, and the moisture contained in the foreign matter can be removed more efficiently. In addition, the hanging cylindrical part can be used as a handle when compressing the foreign matter, which is more convenient and hygienic.

[0032] Means 6. The drain plug device for a kitchen according to Means 1, characterized in that the stopper cover side mechanism is configured to move the stopper cover upward to an expanded open position which is a position above the basic open position.

[0033] According to the above-described means 6, the stopper cover mechanism can move the stopper cover upward to an expanded open position, which is higher than the basic open position. Therefore, the stopper cover can be positioned higher than the basic open position without touching the stopper cover with your hands. This improves convenience and hygiene, while also allowing larger foreign objects than those normally expected to flow smoothly into the collection basket. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0034] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view of the drain plug device when the drain is closed. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of a drain plug device when the drain is open and the plug cover is in the basic open position. [Figure 3] This is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the packing portion, etc., when the stopper cap is in the basic open position. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the drain plug device when the drain is in the open position. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the collection basket, etc., with the stopper cap removed. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the recessed area and other parts with the stopper cover and collection basket removed. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing the detachable parts when the protruding part is inserted into the collection basket. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view showing the detachable parts when the protruding part is inserted into the collection basket. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view showing the inflow of foreign matter into the collection basket. [Figure 10] This is a plan view showing a stopper cover, etc., in another embodiment. [Figure 11]This is a cross-sectional view along the KK line in Figure 13, showing the inlet forming surface and collection basket in another embodiment. [Figure 12] In another embodiment, this is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the protrusions and recesses that constitute the stopper cap rotation restricting means. [Figure 13] In another embodiment, Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line JJ to show the structure of the drain plug device. [Figure 14] In another embodiment, this is a cross-sectional view showing a stopper cap or the like positioned in an expanded open position. [Figure 15] This is a cross-sectional view of a drain plug device showing the inlet forming surface in another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0035] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the kitchen drain plug device 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "drain plug device 1") is installed in the kitchen sink 100. In addition to the plug cover 7, which will be described later, the drain plug device 1 includes a recess-forming portion 102 formed in the sink 100. Here, the configuration of the sink 100 will be described first. Note that the sink 100 does not necessarily have to be made up of a single part, and may be made up by assembling multiple parts. Therefore, for example, the sink 100 may be made up by assembling the parts that constitute the parts of the sink 100 other than the recess-forming portion 102 and the parts that constitute the recess-forming portion 102 which are formed separately from those parts.

[0036] The sink 100 comprises a base portion 101 and a recess-forming portion 102. The base portion 101 constitutes the majority of the bottom of the sink 100. The upper surface of the base portion 101 is substantially horizontal (more precisely, it is a very gently sloping surface that gradually slopes downward toward the recess-forming portion 102, although this is not shown in the illustration).

[0037] The recessed portion 102 is recessed on the back or side of the sink 100 as viewed from the user, adjacent to a side wall portion (not shown) erected on the outer edge of the base portion 101. The recessed portion 102 is provided with an inlet forming surface 103, a surface to be placed on 104, a rising surface 105, a hanging surface 106, and a bottom surface 107.

[0038] The inlet forming surface 103 is connected to the upper surface of the base portion 101 and is an inclined surface that gradually approaches the support shaft 52 side, which will be described later, from below. In this embodiment, the inlet forming surface 103 has a circular shape (annular) in plan view (see Figure 4).

[0039] Furthermore, at least a predetermined target surface 103a on the inlet forming surface 103 (the surface of the inlet forming surface 103 with a thick line in Figure 3) has a tapered surface shape with a constant inclination angle. The target surface 103a refers to the surface of the inlet forming surface 103 between a portion X that is at least at the same height as the packing portion 72 (described later) and is closest to the packing portion 72 in the horizontal direction, and a portion Y that is located vertically below the packing portion 72 and is closest to the packing portion 72 in the vertical direction, when the plug cover 7 is in the basic open position (see Figure 3).

[0040] The mounting surface 104 is an annular plane extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and is the surface on which the flange-shaped portion 62b, described later, is mounted.

[0041] The rising surface 105 rises upward from the outer edge of the mounting surface 104 and is continuous with the inlet forming surface 103. The height of the rising surface 105 relative to the mounting surface 104 is set to be slightly larger (for example, within a few millimeters) than the thickness of the flange-shaped portion 62b, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the portion from the inlet forming surface 103 to the rising surface 105 is a curved surface, and the boundary portion between the inlet forming surface 103 and the rising surface 105 refers to the center of the curved surface along the vertical direction. This boundary portion coincides with the uppermost part of the rising surface 105. If the portion from the inlet forming surface 103 to the rising surface 105 has an angular shape, the apex of the corner will be the boundary portion between the inlet forming surface 103 and the rising surface 105 (i.e., the uppermost part of the rising surface 105).

[0042] The hanging surface 106 is a cylindrical surface that slopes downward from the inner edge of the mounting surface 104, and the height of the hanging surface 106 is set to accommodate the basket body 62, which will be described later. The upper and lower parts of the hanging surface 106 are curved surfaces, with the upper part connected to the mounting surface 104 and the lower part connected to the bottom surface 107.

[0043] The bottom surface 107 is a circular (annular) inclined surface in plan view, gradually sloping inward from the lower end of the hanging surface 106 towards the drain opening 109 (described below). Furthermore, the drain opening 109 is formed through the bottom portion 108 of the recess-forming portion 102, which constitutes the bottom surface 107.

[0044] In addition, a recess 110 that opens upward is formed by the internal space of the recess-forming portion 102, which is surrounded by the inlet-forming surface 103, the surface to be placed on 104, the rising surface 105, the hanging surface 106, and the bottom surface 107. The recess 110 comprises an inlet space 111, which is an inverted frustoconical space surrounded by the inlet-forming surface 103, and a basket placement space 112, which is a space surrounded by the surface to be placed on 104, the rising surface 105, the hanging surface 106, and the bottom surface 107.

[0045] The inlet space 111 is an upward-opening space located at the very top of the recess 110. Foreign objects such as food waste that enter the recess 110 first enter the inlet space 111.

[0046] The cage arrangement space 112 is a space located below the inlet space 111, continuous with the inlet space 111, and functions as a space for housing the collection cage 6, which will be described later.

[0047] Next, a part of the drain plug device 1 other than the recess-forming part 102 will be described. The drain plug device 1 comprises a drain outlet member 2, piping 3, a plug cover side mechanism 4, a support shaft unit 5, a collection basket 6, and a plug cover 7.

[0048] The drain member 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is inserted into the drain port 109 with its own central axis substantially aligned with the central axis of the drain port 109. The drain member 2 has a flange portion 21 that protrudes radially outward at its upper end and a male threaded portion 22 formed on the outer circumference below the flange portion 21.

[0049] The piping 3 comprises a cylindrical main pipe 31 extending vertically and a cylindrical mounting pipe portion 32 extending from the main pipe 31 in a branched state.

[0050] The main pipe 31, together with the drain outlet member 2, constitutes the drainage flow path. The main pipe 31 has a female threaded portion 31a (however, it is shown in a simplified manner in the drawing) on ​​the inner circumference of one end (upper end) into which the male threaded portion 22 can be screwed. The piping 3 is positioned below the bottom 108 so as to be approximately coaxial with the drain outlet 109, and the drain outlet member 2 is inserted from above the bottom 108 into the drain outlet 109 and the piping 3, while the male threaded portion 22 is screwed into the female threaded portion 31a. The bottom 108 is then sandwiched between the flange portion 21 and the upper end surface of the piping 3, thereby connecting the drain outlet member 2 and the piping 3, and both are attached to the sink 100.

[0051] In this embodiment, an annular sealing member 8 made of an elastically deformable material (for example, resin or rubber) is placed between the upper end surface of the pipe 3 and the back surface (bottom surface) of the bottom portion 108. This sealing member 8 prevents water leakage from between the pipe 3 and the sink 100.

[0052] The mounting cylinder portion 32 is a cylindrical part overall and functions as the mounting target for the plug cover side mechanism portion 4. The end of the mounting cylinder portion 32 opposite to the main pipe 31 is provided with a flange-like portion that protrudes outward, and a hole (not shown) for mounting the plug cover side mechanism portion 4 is formed through this flange-like portion. This hole has a curved shape that extends along the circumferential direction of the mounting cylinder portion 32, and multiple holes (for example, three) are provided at intervals along this circumferential direction.

[0053] The stopper cover side mechanism 4 is a mechanism that moves the stopper cover 7 up and down by moving the support shaft unit 5 up and down. The stopper cover side mechanism 4 includes a rotatable rotating part 41 and a support projection 42 that can move up and down in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating part 41. In this embodiment, the rotating part 41 is configured to rotate by operating an operating part (for example, an operating button that can move up and down) provided near the sink 100, such as on a kitchen counter, and utilizing the operating force applied to the operating part. The transmission of the operating force from the operating part to the rotating part 41 can be performed by, for example, a release wire having an inner wire and an outer tube through which the inner wire is inserted in a state in which it can move back and forth.

[0054] Furthermore, the stopper cover mechanism 4 is capable of maintaining the rotating part 41 in a stopped state at a predetermined angle. In this state, the support projection 42 can be stopped in its maximum upward position, and consequently, the stopper cover 7 can be maintained in a stopped state at a predetermined basic open position (the position shown in Figure 2). In this embodiment, even when the support projection 42 is moved to its maximum upward position, the support projection 42 is not positioned vertically above the rotation axis of the rotating part 41.

[0055] Furthermore, the plug cover side mechanism 4 is equipped with a claw portion (not shown) that can be inserted into the hole provided in the mounting cylinder portion 32. The plug cover side mechanism 4 is attached to the mounting cylinder portion 32 by inserting the claw portion into the hole and engaging it with the flange-shaped portion of the mounting cylinder portion 32. When the plug cover side mechanism 4 is attached to the mounting cylinder portion 32, the support projection 42 is positioned inside the main pipe 31. However, the support projection 42 is relatively short, and its tip does not reach the central axis of the main pipe 31. Note that the method of attaching the plug cover side mechanism 4 to the mounting cylinder portion 32 may be modified as appropriate.

[0056] The support shaft unit 5 supports the plug cover 7 and transmits the driving force caused by the vertical movement of the support projection 42 to the plug cover 7. The support shaft unit 5 comprises a supported cylindrical portion 51 and a support shaft 52.

[0057] The supported cylindrical portion 51 is a cylindrical part supported by the support projection 42. The supported cylindrical portion 51 is inserted into the drain outlet member 2 and the inner circumference of the pipe 3 with its outer surface close to the inner surface of the pipe 3. In this embodiment, the supported cylindrical portion 51 is relatively thin-walled, and when viewed from above, the inner surface of the supported cylindrical portion 51 is positioned closer to the inner surface of the pipe 3 than the tip of the support projection 42. As a result, the water-permeable area in the internal space of the supported cylindrical portion 51 is sufficiently large, allowing the drain to flow smoothly inside the supported cylindrical portion 51. Furthermore, the supported cylindrical portion 51 allows the support shaft unit 5 to stand almost upright on its own within the drainage flow path (inside the pipe 3, etc.).

[0058] The support shaft 52 is a rod-shaped portion that supports the plug cover 7 by its upper surface. The lower part of the support shaft 52 is connected to the supported cylindrical portion 51 via a plurality of connecting portions 53 (see Figures 1 and 6), and moves up and down in accordance with the up and down movement of the supported cylindrical portion 51 caused by the up and down movement of the support projection 42. In this embodiment, the support shaft 52 is constructed by connecting a base portion 52a, which is integrally formed with the supported cylindrical portion 51 and the connecting portions 53, and a rod-shaped column portion 52b in series.

[0059] The collection basket 6 is positioned in the basket placement space 112 and is intended to collect foreign matter such as food waste that flows into the inlet space 111. The collection basket 6 comprises a basket-side cylindrical portion 61 and a basket body portion 62.

[0060] The basket-side cylindrical portion 61 is cylindrical in shape and is located in the center of the collection basket 6. A support shaft 52 is inserted through the inner circumference of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61, and the support shaft 52 moves up and down along the inner surface of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61. The basket-side cylindrical portion 61 guides the up and down movement of the support shaft 52 and also prevents the support shaft 52 from tilting. Furthermore, the upper end of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61 is positioned above the upper part (upper end) of the basket body portion 62. Alternatively, the upper end of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61 may be positioned at the same height as the upper part (upper end) of the basket body portion 62.

[0061] Furthermore, the lower end of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61 is provided with a lower basket cylindrical portion 61a that protrudes downward from the basket body portion 62 and gradually widens in diameter downward. This lower basket cylindrical portion 61a can be used, for example, as a "handle" when holding the collection basket 6 upside down to dispose of foreign matter collected in the collection basket 6. The lower basket cylindrical portion 61a also functions as a guide to make it easier to insert the support shaft 52 into the basket-side cylindrical portion 61, that is, as a "trigger" when attaching the collection basket 6.

[0062] The basket body 62 is located below the lid 71, which will be described later, and is primarily responsible for collecting foreign matter. The basket body 62 has a bowl-like shape that widens outward from the outer surface of the basket side cylindrical part 61 and has a collection space 62a that is recessed downward. Foreign matter that flows into the inlet space 111 is contained and collected in the collection space 62a. In addition, the basket body 62 has numerous water passage holes (not shown) formed through it, and the wastewater flows down to the pipe 3 side through these water passage holes.

[0063] In addition, a flange-like portion 62b that protrudes outward is formed on the upper part of the basket body 62. When the flange-like portion 62b is placed on the mounting surface 104, the collection basket 6 is positioned in the basket placement space 112 while floating above the bottom surface 107 (bottom 108).

[0064] Furthermore, when the flange portion 62b is placed on the mounting surface 104, the upper surface of the flange portion 62b is positioned below the uppermost part of the rising surface 105, and the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 62b is in contact with or close to the rising surface 105 (for example, within a few millimeters of the rising surface 105).

[0065] The stopper cover 7 is a stopper for opening and closing the drain port 109. The stopper cover 7 comprises a cover portion 71 and a packing portion 72.

[0066] The lid portion 71 is a disc-shaped part with its upper surface facing the water storage space side (upwards) of the sink 100. In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the lid portion 71 is configured to be approximately the same as the outer diameter of the packing portion 72 (for example, the difference between the outer diameter of the lid portion 71 and the outer diameter of the packing portion 72 is within a few millimeters). In other words, when viewed from above, the outer edge of the lid portion 71 and the outer edge of the packing portion 72 are configured to almost overlap (for example, the shortest distance between these outer edges is within a few millimeters).

[0067] Furthermore, the lid portion 71 includes a disc-shaped lid base portion 711 and a detachable portion 712 that can be attached to and removed from the lid base portion 711.

[0068] The lid base portion 711 comprises a mounting portion 711a provided in the center of its rear surface, and a plurality of attachment / detachment claw portions 711b arranged in a ring shape around the mounting portion 711a. The mounting portion 711a has a recess in its center into which the tip surface (upper part) of the support shaft 52 can be placed. When the tip surface (upper part) of the support shaft 52 is placed in this recess, the lid portion 71 is placed on the tip surface (upper part) of the support shaft 52, and consequently the plug lid 7 is supported by the support shaft 52.

[0069] The detachable claw portion 711b is configured to be slightly elastically deformable along the inward and outward directions by utilizing the elasticity of the material. In this embodiment, the protruding portion 712b of the detachable portion 712, described later, is configured to be attached to the detachable portion 712 by being locked to the detachable claw portion 711b while making surface contact with the back surface of the lid base portion 711. On the other hand, by applying force to the lid base portion 711 and the detachable portion 712 in the direction that separates the detachable portion 712 from the lid base portion 711, it is possible to remove the detachable portion 712 from the lid base portion 711 while elastically deforming the detachable claw portion 711b.

[0070] The detachable part 712 comprises a cylindrical hanging section 712a and a plate-shaped projection 712b that protrudes outward from the upper part of the hanging section 712a. The hanging section 712a is located in the center of the lid 71 and is a cylindrical part that extends downward when the detachable part 712 is attached to the lid base section 711. When the lid 71 is placed on the tip surface of the support shaft 52 (the plug cover 7 is supported by the support shaft 52), the hanging section 712a is positioned on the outer circumference of the cage-side section 61. The hanging section 712a moves along the outer circumference of the cage-side section 61 when the plug cover 7 moves up and down. Therefore, the hanging section 712a has the function of guiding the movement of the plug cover 7 when the plug cover 7 moves up and down and suppressing the tilting of the plug cover 7.

[0071] In this embodiment, when the stopper cover 7 is placed on the tip surface (upper part) of the support shaft 52, the stopper cover 7 can be removed from the support shaft 52 by pulling up the stopper cover 7, thereby detaching the hanging cylindrical portion 712a from the outer circumference of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61. When the stopper cover 7 is removed from the support shaft 52, the collection basket 6 remains, and the collection space 62a of the collection basket 6 is exposed to the water storage space side of the sink 100 (see Figure 5). Therefore, it is possible to easily remove foreign matter contained in the collection space 62a.

[0072] Furthermore, when the plug cover 7 is removed from the support shaft 52, the detachable part 712 can be removed from the cover base part 711 of the removed plug cover 7, and the hanging cylindrical part 712a of the detachable part 712 can be positioned on the outer circumference of the basket-side cylindrical part 61. Then, with the hanging cylindrical part 712a positioned on the outer circumference of the basket-side cylindrical part 61, the detachable part 712 can be moved so that the hanging cylindrical part 712a moves along the outer surface of the basket-side cylindrical part 61, thereby allowing the protruding part 712b to enter the collection space 62a.

[0073] In this embodiment, whether the detachable part 712 is in its normal state (the same state as when the plug cover 7 is placed on the support shaft 52) ​​or in its inverted state (inverted from the normal state), the protruding part 712b can be inserted into the collection space 62a by moving the detachable part 712 so that the hanging cylindrical part 712a moves along the outer circumferential surface of the basket-side cylindrical part 61 (see Figures 7 and 8). By moving the detachable part 712 so that the hanging cylindrical part 712a moves along the outer circumferential surface of the basket-side cylindrical part 61 after the detachable part 712 has been inverted, the protruding part 712b can be inserted further into the collection space 62a compared to when the detachable part 712 is in its normal state.

[0074] Furthermore, when the stopper cover 7 is removed from the support shaft 52, the collection basket 6 can be lifted up, thereby detaching the basket-side cylindrical portion 61 from the outer circumference of the support shaft 52 and removing the collection basket 6 from the basket placement space 112. When the collection basket 6 is removed from the basket placement space 112, the support shaft unit 5 remains, and the basket placement space 112 is exposed to the water storage space side of the sink 100 (see Figure 6). Therefore, it is possible to easily remove any foreign matter remaining in the basket placement space 112 and to clean the recessed portion 102. It should be noted that even when the collection basket 6 is removed from the basket placement space 112, the protruding portion 712b can be inserted into the back of the collection space 62a using the detachable portion 712.

[0075] Furthermore, when the collection basket 6 is removed from the basket placement space 112, the support shaft unit 5 can be removed by pulling it up. By removing the support shaft unit 5, it becomes possible to clean the support shaft unit 5 on its own, and also makes it easier to clean the recessed portion 102.

[0076] The packing portion 72 is positioned so that its outer edge is below the outer edge (outermost periphery) of the lid portion 71 and is close to the outer edge of the lid portion 71. The packing portion 72 is the part of the plug cover 7 that is closest to the inlet forming surface 103, and as will be described later, it comes into contact with the inlet forming surface 103 when the drain port 109 is closed.

[0077] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, when the plug cover 7 is positioned in the basic open position (the position shown in Figure 2), the vertically closest portion 72a of the packing portion 72, which is located vertically above the inlet forming surface 103 and is the portion closest to the inlet forming surface 103 in the vertical direction, is configured to be located above the center CS in the vertical direction on the inlet forming surface 103.

[0078] In the drain plug device 1 described above, the open and closed state of the drain port 109 can be switched as follows. That is, by operating the operating part and rotating the rotating part 41 so that the support projection 42 moves upward, a driving force is indirectly applied from the support projection 42 (plug cover side mechanism part 4) to the part of the support shaft 52 located below the collection basket 6, via the supported cylindrical part 51, etc. This causes the support shaft 52 and the plug cover 7 placed on the support shaft 52 to move upward. As the plug cover 7 moves upward, the packing part 72 separates from the inlet forming surface 103, and the drain port 109 opens. Finally, the support projection 42 stops in the maximum upward position, and consequently the plug cover 7 is maintained in the basic open position (the position shown in Figure 2).

[0079] Here, when the plug cover 7 is in the basic open position, the upper surface of the cover portion 71 (plug cover 7) is flush with the upper surface of the base portion 101 (see Figure 2). "Flush" means that the upper surface of the cover portion 71 and the upper surface of the base portion 101 are at approximately the same height (for example, the difference in height between the upper surface of the base portion 101 and the upper surface of the cover portion 71 is within a few millimeters).

[0080] Furthermore, when the plug cover 7 is positioned in the basic open position, the horizontal distance A from the packing portion 72 to the inlet forming surface 103 is greater than or equal to the vertical distance B from the closest vertical point 72a to the inlet forming surface 103 (see Figure 3). In this embodiment, distance B is set to a predetermined value (for example, 10 mm, more preferably 15 mm) or greater. Also, in terms of improving appearance, it is preferable that when the plug cover 7 is positioned in the basic open position, distance A is set to be less than or equal to twice the distance B.

[0081] On the other hand, when the drain port 109 is in the open state, the operating part is operated to rotate the rotating part 41 so that the support projection 42 moves downward, causing the support projection 42 to move downward, and consequently the support shaft 52 and the plug cover 7 placed on it to move downward. Then, the entire outer circumference of the packing part 72 comes into contact with the inlet forming surface 103, and the drain port 109 is closed.

[0082] As described in detail above, according to this embodiment, the stopper cover 7 can be moved up and down by applying a driving force to the support shaft 52 via the stopper cover side mechanism 4, thereby switching the open and closed state of the drain outlet 109. Therefore, the work involved in switching the open and closed state of the drain outlet 109 becomes extremely easy, and the management of the stopper cover 7 becomes unnecessary, thus preventing the loss of the stopper cover 7. In addition, when switching the open and closed state of the drain outlet 109, it is no longer necessary to touch the stopper cover 7 or to place the stopper cover 7 outside the sink 100, improving convenience and hygiene.

[0083] Furthermore, when the stopper cover 7 is in the basic open position, the upper surface of the cover portion 71 is flush with the upper surface of the base portion 101. Therefore, compared to the case where the upper surface of the cover portion 71 protrudes from the upper surface of the base portion 101, the stopper cover 7 is less likely to get in the way when placing dishes or cooking utensils on the sink 100, thus improving convenience. In addition, the stopper cover 7 makes it more difficult to see foreign objects in the collection basket 6, and the drain plug device 1 has a more cohesive appearance overall, thus further improving its aesthetic appeal.

[0084] In addition, the vertically closest point 72a is configured to be located above the vertical center CS on the inlet forming surface 103. Therefore, when the plug cover 7 is in the basic open position, a relatively large vertical distance B can be secured from the inlet forming surface 103 to the vertically closest point 72a. As a result, when the plug cover 7 is in the basic open position, a relatively large area can be secured for the opening (referred to as the "lower opening BO"; see Figure 3, etc.) formed between the vertically closest point 72a and the inlet forming surface 103 below the packing portion 72. Consequently, even when the plug cover 7 is in the basic open position, foreign matter such as food waste can easily pass through the lower opening BO.

[0085] Furthermore, when the stopper cover 7 is positioned in the basic open position, distance A is set to be greater than or equal to distance B, which is relatively large as described above. Therefore, a large area can be secured for the opening (referred to as the "lateral opening SO"; see Figure 3, etc.) formed between the inlet forming surface 103 and the packing portion 72 on the side of the packing portion 72. As a result, even when the stopper cover 7 is positioned in the basic open position, foreign matter such as food waste can easily pass through the lateral opening SO smoothly.

[0086] Furthermore, at least the target surface 103a of the inlet forming surface 103 has a tapered surface shape with a constant inclination angle. In other words, at least the surface of the inlet forming surface 103 corresponding to the path from the lateral opening SO to the lower opening BO is not a curved surface that is convex upwards, but rather a tapered surface shape with a constant inclination angle. As a result, the distance between the surface of the inlet forming surface 103 corresponding to the path from the lateral opening SO to the lower opening BO (target surface 103a) and the packing portion 72 (the cross-sectional area of ​​the space through which foreign matter passes) can be made larger, making it easier for foreign matter to flow down more smoothly from the lateral opening SO to the lower opening BO.

[0087] As described above, the areas of the lateral opening SO and the lower opening BO are each large, and at least the surface of the inlet forming surface 103 corresponding to the path from the lateral opening SO to the lower opening BO (target surface 103a) is tapered. As shown in Figure 9, even if the foreign matter K is relatively large, it can pass smoothly through the lateral opening SO, flow smoothly down from the lateral opening SO to the lower opening BO, and then smoothly pass through the lower opening BO to easily reach the collection basket 6. This makes it possible to ensure the smooth inflow of foreign matter into the collection basket 6 while providing a stopper cover 7 for opening and closing the drain port 109. In particular, in this embodiment, it is possible to ensure the smooth inflow (passage) of foreign matter around the entire circumference of the stopper cover 7.

[0088] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the stopper cover 7 and the collection basket 6 can be removed very easily. Therefore, the disposal of foreign matter collected in the collection basket 6 (such as garbage disposal) can be carried out simply. In addition, since the stopper cover 7 and the collection basket 6 can be cleaned individually, convenience and hygiene can be further enhanced.

[0089] Furthermore, when removing the collection basket 6, the basket-side cylindrical portion 61 can be used as a "handle," and since the hanging cylindrical portion 712a is positioned on the outer circumference of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61 (i.e., the outer circumference of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61 is covered by the hanging cylindrical portion 712a), it is possible to effectively prevent foreign matter and dirt from adhering to the basket-side cylindrical portion 61. Therefore, by using the basket-side cylindrical portion 61 as a "handle," it is possible to more reliably prevent foreign matter and dirt from adhering to your hands when removing the collection basket 6, thereby further enhancing convenience and hygiene.

[0090] In addition, when the plug cover 7 moves up and down, the hanging cylindrical portion 712a moves along the outer circumferential surface of the cage-side cylindrical portion 61, which has a larger diameter than the support shaft 52, thus effectively suppressing the tilt of the plug cover 7 (the tilt of the central axis of the plug cover 7 relative to the support shaft 52).

[0091] Furthermore, when the flange-shaped portion 62b is placed on the mounting surface 104, the upper surface of the flange-shaped portion 62b is located below the uppermost part of the rising surface 105, and the outer circumferential surface of the flange-shaped portion 62b is in contact with or close to the rising surface 105. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent foreign matter flowing along the inlet forming surface 103 from getting caught on the flange-shaped portion 62b. As a result, it is possible to achieve a smoother flow of foreign matter into the collection basket 6.

[0092] Furthermore, because the flange portion 62b is in the state described above, it becomes difficult to use the flange portion 62b as a "handle" when removing the collection basket 6 from the basket placement space 112. On the other hand, since the basket-side cylindrical portion 61 protrudes above the top of the basket body portion 62, it becomes easier to use the basket-side cylindrical portion 61 as a "handle". Therefore, when removing the collection basket 6 from the basket placement space 112, the user can naturally use the basket-side cylindrical portion 61, which is covered by the hanging cylindrical portion 712a and is less prone to dirt accumulation, as a "handle" rather than the flange portion 62b, which is relatively prone to dirt accumulation. As a result, convenience and hygiene can be further improved.

[0093] In addition, in this embodiment, the lid base portion 711 and the detachable portion 712 can be separated, and both can be cleaned independently. Therefore, convenience and hygiene can be further enhanced.

[0094] Furthermore, with the hanging cylindrical portion 712a of the detachable portion 712, which has been removed from the lid base portion 711, positioned on the outer circumference of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61, the detachable portion 712 can be moved so that the hanging cylindrical portion 712a moves along the outer surface of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61, thereby allowing the protruding portion 712b to enter the collection space 62a (i.e., the space in which foreign matter is contained). As a result, when processing the foreign matter collected in the collection basket 6 (e.g., disposing of it), the foreign matter can be compressed by the protruding portion 712b and the moisture contained in the foreign matter can be removed without directly touching the foreign matter with one's hands. Therefore, convenience and hygiene can be further enhanced.

[0095] In particular, in this embodiment, by moving the detachable part 712 so that the hanging cylindrical part 712a moves along the outer circumferential surface of the basket-side cylindrical part 61 while the detachable part 712 is inverted vertically, the protruding part 712b can be inserted into the collection space 62a. By inverting the detachable part 712 vertically, the hanging cylindrical part 712a is positioned on the opposite side from the collection basket 6, so the protruding part 712b can be inserted more widely into the collection space 62a without the hanging cylindrical part 712a getting in the way. Therefore, the foreign matter can be compressed more strongly by the protruding part 712b, and the moisture contained in the foreign matter can be removed more efficiently. In addition, the hanging cylindrical part 712a can be used as a handle when compressing the foreign matter, thus providing better convenience and hygiene.

[0096] Furthermore, the embodiment is not limited to the description above, and may be implemented as follows, for example. Of course, other applications and modifications not exemplified below are also possible.

[0097] (a) In the above embodiment, the plug cover 7 and the inlet forming surface 103 are circular in plan view, but the shape of the plug cover and the inlet forming surface is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 10, the plug cover 7 and the inlet forming surface 103 may be configured to be rectangular in plan view. Of course, when viewed from the plan, the plug cover and the recess forming part may be configured to be elliptical, oblong, polygonal (for example, hexagonal or octagonal).

[0098] (b) In the above embodiment, the hanging cylindrical portion 712a is rotatable relative to the basket-side cylindrical portion 61. In contrast, as shown in Figures 11 to 13, for example, the collection basket 6 may be installed in a state in which rotation along the circumferential direction of the support shaft 52 is restricted by making the recess-forming portion 102 (especially the mounting surface and the raised surface) and the collection basket 6 (especially the flange-shaped portion) rectangular in plan view, and a stopper cover rotation restricting means 9 may be provided to restrict the rotation of the hanging cylindrical portion 712a relative to the basket-side cylindrical portion 61. The stopper cover rotation restricting means 9 can be composed of, for example, a projection 91 protruding from the outer circumference of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61 and a recess 92 provided on the hanging cylindrical portion 712a where the projection 91 is located. Of course, the stopper cover rotation restricting means may also be configured by making the outer circumferential surface of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61 a polygonal cross-sectional shape (for example, a hexagonal shape) and the inner circumferential surface of the hanging cylindrical portion 712a a polygonal cross-sectional shape that matches the cross-sectional shape of the basket-side cylindrical portion 61.

[0099] By providing the stopper cover rotation restricting means 9, it is possible to more reliably prevent the stopper cover 7 from unintentionally rotating due to the effects of drainage when the drain port 109 is open. This further improves the appearance.

[0100] Furthermore, if the stopper cover 7 has a non-circular shape in plan view (for example, rectangular in plan view), when the drain port 109 is closed, the packing portion 72 can be brought into proper contact with the inlet forming surface 103 without the user having to adjust the position of the stopper cover 7. This ensures that good watertightness is achieved more reliably without compromising convenience. Moreover, since the orientation of the stopper cover 7 is kept constant when the drain port 109 is open, the orientations of the stopper cover 7 and the recess 110 can be maintained in the same position, resulting in a better aesthetic appearance and improved foreign matter passage performance (collection performance).

[0101] (c) In the above embodiment, the plug cover 7 is positioned in the basic open position when the support projection 42 is moved to its maximum upward position. In contrast, as shown in Figure 14, the plug cover side mechanism 4 may be configured such that the plug cover 7 is positioned in an expanded open position, which is above the basic open position, when the support projection 42 is moved to its maximum upward position. That is, the plug cover side mechanism 4 may be configured to allow the plug cover 7 to be moved upward to the expanded open position.

[0102] With this configuration, the stopper cover 7 can be positioned above its basic open position without touching it. This improves convenience and hygiene, while also allowing larger foreign objects than those normally expected to flow smoothly into the collection basket 6.

[0103] Furthermore, even if the plug cover 7 is configured to be moved upward to the fully open position as described above, the plug cover side mechanism 4 is configured to maintain the plug cover 7 in a stationary state at the basic open position. On the other hand, the plug cover side mechanism 4 may or may not have a function to maintain the plug cover 7 in a stationary state at the fully open position. If the plug cover side mechanism 4 does not have a function to maintain the plug cover 7 in a stationary state at the fully open position, the plug cover 7 may be configured to be placed in the fully open position only when force is applied to the operating part (for example, when the operating button is pressed).

[0104] (d) In the above embodiment, the rotating part 41 is configured to rotate using the operating force applied to the operating part, but a drive source such as a motor may be provided, and the rotating part 41 may be configured to rotate in accordance with the operation of the drive source.

[0105] (e) In the above embodiment, the plug cover side mechanism 4 is equipped with a rotating part 41 and a support projection 42, and the support projection 42 moves up and down as the rotating part 41 rotates, thereby moving the plug cover 7 up and down. Alternatively, the plug cover side mechanism may be equipped with a cylindrical case and a rod-shaped part arranged to be reciprocally movable relative to the case, and may be arranged in the internal space of the piping 3 (main pipe 31). In this case, the support shaft 52 moves up and down as the rod-shaped part moves up and down, and as a result the plug cover 7 moves up and down. The rod-shaped part and the support shaft 52 may be integrated or connected. The rod-shaped part may also be moved by an operating force applied to the operating part (e.g., an operating button), or it may be moved in conjunction with the operation of a drive source such as a motor.

[0106] (f) In the above embodiment, the driving force is indirectly transmitted from the plug cover side mechanism 4 to the support shaft 52 via the supported cylindrical part 51, etc., but it is also possible to configure it so that the driving force is directly transmitted from the plug cover side mechanism 4 to the support shaft 52.

[0107] (g) In the above embodiment, when the flange portion 62b is placed on the mounting surface 104, the upper surface of the flange portion 62b is positioned below the uppermost part of the rising surface 105. In contrast, when the flange portion 62b is placed on the mounting surface 104, the upper surface of the flange portion 62b may be positioned at the same height as the uppermost part of the rising surface 105.

[0108] (h) In the above embodiment, at least the target surface 103a of the inlet forming surface 103 has a tapered surface shape with a constant inclination angle, but as shown in Figure 15, it may have a curved surface shape that is recessed downwards. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0109] 1... Drain plug device for kitchen, 4... Plug cover side mechanism, 6... Collection basket, 7... Plug cover, 9... Plug cover rotation restricting means, 52... Support shaft, 61... Basket side cylindrical part, 62... Basket body part, 62a... Collection space, 62b... Flange-shaped part, 71... Cover part, 72... Packing part, 72a... Closest vertically approaching part, 101... Base part, 102... Recess forming part, 103... Inlet forming surface, 104... Surface to be placed on, 105... Rising surface, 109... Drain opening, 110... Recess, 111... Inlet space, 112... Basket placement space, 711... Cover base part, 712... Detachable part, 712a... Hanging cylindrical part, 712b... Protruding part.

Claims

1. A recessed portion is formed in the kitchen sink, having an inlet space that opens upward and a basket placement space that is continuous with the inlet space and located below the inlet space, and a drain opening that communicates with the recess is formed at the bottom. A stopper cover having a plate-shaped cover portion with an annular packing portion on its outer circumference, A rod-shaped support shaft that can move vertically, A collection basket having a basket body located below the lid and having a recessed collection space, and a basket-side cylindrical portion through which the support shaft can be inserted, and being placed in the basket arrangement space and capable of accommodating foreign matter that flows into the inlet space in the collection space, The system includes a stopper cover side mechanism that can move the stopper cover up and down by directly or indirectly applying driving force to a portion of the support shaft located below the collection basket through the basket-side cylindrical portion of the support shaft, The inlet forming surface, which is the surface of the recess forming portion that forms the inlet space, has a shape that gradually approaches the support shaft side toward the downward direction. A kitchen drain plug device is configured such that, as the plug cover moves downward, the packing portion comes into contact with the inlet forming surface, causing the drain to close, and as the plug cover moves upward, the packing portion separates from the inlet forming surface, causing the drain to open. The aforementioned stopper cover side mechanism is capable of maintaining the stopper cover in a fixed state at a predetermined basic open position when the drain port is open. Of the packing portion, when the plug cover is positioned in the basic open position, the portion that is located vertically above the inlet forming surface and is closest to the inlet forming surface in the vertical direction is configured to be located above the center in the vertical direction of the inlet forming surface. Of the inlet forming surface, when the plug cover is positioned in the basic open position, the surface between the portion located at the same height as the packing portion and closest to the packing portion in the horizontal direction, and the portion located vertically below the packing portion and closest to the packing portion in the vertical direction, has a tapered surface shape with a constant inclination angle or a curved surface shape that is recessed downward. A kitchen drain plug device characterized in that, when the plug cover is positioned in the basic open position, the upper surface of the cover is flush with the upper surface of the sink base that is continuous with the upper part of the recess forming portion, and the distance in the horizontal direction from the packing portion to the inlet forming surface is greater than or equal to the distance in the vertical direction from the closest vertical point to the inlet forming surface.

2. The central part of the lid is provided with a cylindrical hanging section that extends downward, The hanging cylindrical portion is positioned on the outer circumference of the basket-side cylindrical portion and is configured to move along the outer surface of the basket-side cylindrical portion when the stopper cover moves up and down. The plug cover is installed with the cover portion resting on the upper part of the support shaft. By lifting the aforementioned stopper cap, the hanging cylindrical portion is detached from the outer circumference of the cage-side cylindrical portion, and the stopper cap can be removed from the support shaft. The kitchen drain plug device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the plug cover is removed from the support shaft, the collection basket can be removed from the basket placement space by pulling up the collection basket, thereby detaching the basket-side cylindrical portion from the outer circumference of the support shaft.

3. The collection basket is installed in a state in which rotation along the circumferential direction of the support shaft is restricted. The kitchen drain plug device according to claim 2, further comprising a stopper cover rotation restricting means for restricting the rotation of the hanging cylinder portion relative to the basket-side cylinder portion.

4. The upper part of the basket body has a flange-like portion that protrudes outward. The recessed portion is, The mounting surface on which the flange-shaped portion is placed, It has a rising surface that extends upward from the outer edge of the surface to be mounted and is continuous with the inlet forming surface, When the flange-shaped portion is placed on the mounting surface, the upper surface of the flange-shaped portion is positioned at the same height as or below the highest point of the rising surface, and the outer peripheral surface of the flange-shaped portion is in contact with or close to the rising surface. The kitchen drain plug device according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper end of the basket-side cylindrical portion is located at the same height as or above the upper part of the basket body portion.

5. The aforementioned lid portion is A lid base portion is placed on the aforementioned support shaft, The device comprises the aforementioned hanging cylindrical portion, and a detachable portion having a plate-shaped protrusion extending outward from the upper part of the hanging cylindrical portion, and configured to be detachable from the lid base portion, The kitchen drain plug device according to claim 2, characterized in that, after removing the detachable part from the lid base part and positioning the hanging cylindrical part of the detachable part on the outer circumference of the basket-side cylindrical part, the detachable part is moved so that the hanging cylindrical part moves along the outer surface of the basket-side cylindrical part, thereby allowing the protruding part to enter the collection space.

6. The drain plug device for a kitchen according to claim 1, characterized in that the stopper cover side mechanism is configured to move the stopper cover upward to an expanded open position which is a position above the basic open position.

Images