shower head and shower hose connection structure

Abstract

To provide a connection structure for a shower head and a shower hose that improves operability of a water discharge direction change of the shower head at the time of water discharge.SOLUTION: A shower head 1 and a shower hose 2 are connected via a connection member 3 that is a ball joint while keeping a watertight state. A ball member 31 of the connection member 3 is arranged on the shower head 1. A covering member 32, a rotation supporting member 33, first packing 34, second packing 35, a joint member 36, and a cover member 37 supporting the ball member 31 so that it can rotate by 360° around an axis CA that is a center axis of the shower hose 2 while keeping the watertight state, and can tilt in the range of a maximum angle θ with respect to the axis CA are arranged on the shower hose 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connection structure between a shower head and a shower hose.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, at the connection between a shower head and a shower hose, there is known a structure in which the shower hose is connected to the shower head so as to be rotatable about the axis of the water flow through an annular packing so that water leakage does not occur during water flow. In the connection structure between the shower head and the shower hose disclosed in Patent Document 1, a packing having a U-shaped cross section is disposed between a head fixing portion on the side where the shower head is attached and a hose fixing portion on the side where the shower hose is attached.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above prior art, when water is discharged from the shower head, the cross-section of the packing is deformed in the direction in which the U-shape opens due to water pressure, so that the occurrence of water leakage at the connection between the shower head and the shower hose can be suppressed. However, due to the deformation of the packing caused by water pressure, the sliding resistance of the relative rotation about the axis of the water flow between the head fixing portion and the hose fixing portion increases, so that when the shower head is moved, the shower hose moves integrally, the shower hose is twisted and abuts against a wall surface or the like, hindering the movement of the shower head.

[0005] In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a connection structure between a shower head and a shower hose that improves the operability of changing the water discharge direction of the shower head during water discharge. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is a connection structure for a shower head and a shower hose, characterized in that a flexible shower hose is connected to the shower head via a ball joint while maintaining a watertight state.

[0007] According to the first invention, since the shower head and the flexible shower hose are connected via a ball joint in a watertight manner, water leakage is prevented when water is discharged from the shower head, and the direction of water discharge can be easily changed. Specifically, the direction of water discharge from the shower head can be rotated 360 degrees around the central axis of the shower hose, or the direction of water discharge from the shower head can be tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to the direction in which the central axis of the shower hose extends.

[0008] The second invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first invention described above, the ball portion of the ball joint is disposed on either the shower head or the shower hose, and the other side is disposed of a ball covering portion of the ball joint that supports the ball portion so as to be able to rotate 360° around the central axis of the shower hose and tilt at a predetermined angle with respect to the central axis of the shower hose while maintaining a watertight state, and the ball covering portion is disposed of a first packing that slidably abuts against the ball portion, and an annular second packing on the other side of the first packing for preventing water leakage from the ball covering portion to the outside when water is discharged from the shower head.

[0009] According to the second invention, even if water leaks from the first packing of the ball joint into the ball covering portion when water is discharged from the shower head, the annular second packing is provided on the side of the ball covering portion other than the ball portion, so water leakage from the ball covering portion to the outside can be suppressed.

[0010] The third invention of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second invention described above, the second packing has a substantially U-shaped cross-section when cut by a plane perpendicular to the direction in which it extends in an annular shape.

[0011] According to the third invention, the second packing, which has a roughly U-shaped cross-section and extends in an annular shape, deforms in the direction that opens the U-shape when water pressure is applied, thus more effectively suppressing water leakage. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view from the outside of a shower head and shower hose connected by a connecting member, which is one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an exploded perspective view of the connecting member between the shower head and the shower hose in the above embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] A connection structure between a shower head 1 and a shower hose 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The shower head 1 and the shower hose 2 are connected via a connecting member 3. The shower head 1 is used by the user in the bathroom, either by holding it in their hand or by being attached to a locking device fixed to a wall or the like. The shower hose 2 is a flexible rubber tubular member. The connecting member 3 is a member that supports the shower head 1 relative to the shower hose 2, maintaining a watertight state, so that it can rotate 360° around axis CA, which is the central axis of the shower hose 2, and can tilt at a predetermined angle relative to axis CA. Here, the connecting member 3 and axis CA correspond to the "ball joint" and "central axis" in the claims, respectively.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the shower head 1 has a resin body 11 and a spray plate 12 attached to the body 11. The body 11 has a cup-shaped cup portion 13 that opens in the OUT direction indicated by the arrow, and a pipe-shaped grip portion 14 that supplies water to the inside of the cup portion 13. The spray plate 12 is a disc-shaped member that is positioned to close the opening of the cup portion 13 and has multiple spray ports 15. Water supplied from the grip portion 14 to the inside of the cup portion 13 fills the inside of the cup portion 13 and is then discharged from each of the multiple spray ports 15 in the OUT direction. A button portion 16 positioned near the cup portion 13 on the grip portion 14 is a component that has the function of opening and closing the water supply from the grip portion 14 to the cup portion 13. A cylindrical connector portion 17 is provided at the end of the grip portion 14 opposite to the cup portion 13. A male screw 17a is formed on the outer diameter surface of the connector portion 17.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the shower hose 2 is a flexible rubber tubular member, with one end connected to a faucet (not shown) in a watertight manner, and the other end connected to a connecting member 3 in a watertight manner. In this way, the shower hose 2 guides the hot water supplied from the faucet to the connecting member 3.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the connecting member 3 includes a ball member 31, a covering member 32, a rotating support member 33, a first packing 34, a second packing 35, a joint member 36, and a cover member 37. Here, the ball member 31 corresponds to the "ball portion" in the claims. Also, the covering member 32, the rotating support member 33, the first packing 34, the second packing 35, the joint member 36, and the cover member 37 correspond to the "ball covering portion" in the claims.

[0017] The ball member 31 is made of resin and has a cylindrical portion 31a, a spherical portion 31b, and a connecting portion 31c that closes the opening at one end of the cylindrical portion 31a and connects to the spherical portion 31b. The cylindrical portion 31a, the spherical portion 31b, and the connecting portion 31c are formed with axis CA as a common central axis. The cylindrical inner cylinder portion 31a1 inside the cylindrical portion 31a and the cylindrical inner diameter portion 31b1 inside the spherical portion 31b and the connecting portion 31c are formed with axis CA as a common central axis and are in communication with each other. The inner diameter of the inner cylinder portion 31a1 is set to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the spherical portion 31b, and the inner diameter of the inner diameter portion 31b1 is set to be about 1 / 3 of the outer diameter of the spherical portion 31b. The inner cylinder portion 31a1 has a female thread 31a2 that can be screwed into the male thread 17a of the connector portion 17, and is attached to the connector portion 17 of the shower head 1 by screwing it in.

[0018] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the covering member 32 is made of resin and has a cylindrical side wall portion 32a with axis CA as its central axis, and a disc-shaped bottom wall portion 32b that closes one end of the side wall portion 32a. The inner diameter of the side wall portion 32a is set to be about 4 / 3 of the outer diameter of the spherical portion 31b, and a female thread 32a1 is formed on the open end side opposite to the bottom wall portion 32b. A cylindrical through hole 32b1 is formed in the bottom wall portion 32b with axis CA as its central axis. The inner diameter of the through hole 32b1 is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the spherical portion 31b.

[0019] The rotating support member 33 is made of hard rubber and is a cylindrical member with the axis CA as its central axis. A support hole 33a is formed in the center of the cylindrical member, having an inner circumferential surface that is substantially the same as that of the spherical portion 31b. Specifically, the support hole 33a has an inner circumferential surface that is a part of a sphere whose radius is slightly larger than the radius of the spherical portion 31b, centered at the central point C in the thickness direction of the rotating support member 33 on the axis CA. The thickness of the rotating support member 33 is set to about 1 / 3 of the outer diameter of the spherical portion 31b. When the spherical portion 31b is fitted into the support hole 33a of the rotating support member 33, it is supported so as to be slidable relative to the rotating support member 33 in the circumferential direction around the axis CA and in a direction that tilts relative to the axis CA.

[0020] The first packing 34 is a member made of hard rubber, and a receiving hole 34c is formed in the central part of a columnar member having the shaft CA as the central axis. The receiving hole 34c has a first inner peripheral surface 34a which is a part of the side surface of a column with the shaft CA as the central axis, and a second inner peripheral surface 34b which is connected to the first inner peripheral surface 34a and has a spherical shape substantially the same as the spherical body part 31b. The inner diameter of the first inner peripheral surface 34a is set to about 3 / 4 of the outer diameter of the spherical body part 31b.

[0021] The second packing 35 is a member made of rubber, has an annular shape with the shaft CA as the central axis, and has a substantially U-shaped cross section when cut along the plane including the shaft CA.

[0022] The joint member 36 is a member made of resin and is a so-called bamboo joint that is inserted and connected to the other end side of the shower hose 2. The joint member 36 has a substantially cylindrical insertion part 36a with the shaft CA as the central axis that is inserted into the inner diameter part of the shower hose 2, and a substantially cylindrical packing holding part 36b having the same central axis as the insertion part 36a. A cylindrical water passage hole 36c with the shaft CA as the central axis is formed in the inner diameter part of the insertion part 36a and the packing holding part 36b. The inner diameter of the water passage hole 36c is set to be smaller than the inner diameter of the shower hose 2 by the thickness in the radial direction of the insertion part 36a. On the outer diameter part of the insertion part 36a, a plurality of convex parts 36a1 for preventing it from coming off are provided extending in the circumferential direction when it is inserted into the inner diameter part of the shower hose 2. The packing holding part 36b has an annular packing groove 36b1 formed in the central part in the extending direction of the shaft CA on the outer diameter part for inserting and holding the second packing 35. The second packing 35 is arranged in the packing groove 36b1 with the opening side of the substantially U-shaped cross section facing the direction opposite to the insertion part 36a. When the second packing 35 is arranged in the packing groove 36b1, one end of the opening side of the substantially U-shaped cross section protrudes slightly in the radial direction from the outer diameter surface of the packing holding part 36b.

[0023] The cover member 37 is a resin member, which is substantially cylindrical and is fitted and connected to the outer diameter portion on the other end side of the shower hose 2. The fitting portion 37a of the cover member 37 that is fitted into the outer diameter portion of the shower hose 2 is formed such that its inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the shower hose 2, and its outer diameter gradually decreases as it goes in the direction of fitting into the shower hose 2. On the side where the outer diameter of the fitting portion 37a is large, a screwing portion 37b with male threads formed on the cylindrical outer diameter portion extends in the direction opposite to the direction of fitting into the shower hose 2 and is arranged. The male threads of the screwing portion 37b are capable of being screwed with the female threads 32a1 of the covering member 32. The inner diameter of the screwing portion 37b is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the packing holding portion 36b of the joint member 36. At the end of the fitting portion 37a on the side of the screwing portion 37b, a disk-shaped clamping portion 37c with a thin-walled hole extending in the axial direction CA is formed. With the clamping portion 37c sandwiched between the end of the shower hose 2 and the surface on the insertion portion 36a side of the packing holding portion 36b in the joint member 36, the joint member 36 is inserted and connected to the other end side of the shower hose 2, whereby the cover member 37 is attached to the shower hose 2. And in this state, one end portion on the opening side of the substantially U-shaped cross section of the second packing 35 abuts against the inner diameter portion of the screwing portion 37b and is pressed, and the opening of the substantially U-shaped cross section is deformed to narrow. Thereby, the watertightness between the joint member 36 and the cover member 37 is maintained.

[0024] The assembly procedure for the connecting member 3 will be explained using Figures 2 and 3. With the spherical portion 31b of the ball member 31 passed through the through hole 32b1 of the covering member 32 from the side opposite to the side wall portion 32a, the rotating support member 33 is attached to the spherical portion 31b. Next, with the cover member 37 fitted onto the outer diameter portion of the other end of the shower hose 2, the joint member 36, to which the second packing 35 has been attached in advance, is inserted into the other end of the shower hose 2, and the clamping portion 37c is clamped between it and the end of the shower hose 2 to secure it. Finally, the first packing 34 is placed on the surface of the packing holding portion 36b of the joint member 36 opposite to the insertion portion 36a, with the first inner circumferential surface portion 34a in contact with the packing holding portion 36b, and with the spherical portion 31b of the ball member 31 in contact with the second inner circumferential surface portion 34b, the covering member 32 is fixed to the cover member 37 by screwing it in. As a result, the spherical portion 31b of the ball member 31 is pressed against the second inner circumferential surface portion 34b of the first packing 34 via the rotation support member 33, allowing the ball member 31 to rotate 360° around axis CA while maintaining a watertight state with respect to the joint member 36, and to tilt within a maximum angle θ of 30° with respect to axis CA, centered on the central point C. The maximum angle θ is the angle restricted by the contact between the peripheral edge of the through hole 32b1 of the cover member 37 and the connecting portion 31c of the ball member 31. The ball member 31 is attached to the connect portion 17 of the shower head 1 by screwing it in.

[0025] The embodiment configured as described above provides the following effects. The shower head 1 and the shower hose 2 are connected via a connecting member 3, maintaining a watertight state. This prevents water leakage when water is discharged from the shower head 1 and allows for easy adjustment of the water discharge direction. Specifically, the water discharge direction of the shower head 1 can be rotated 360 degrees around the axis CA of the shower hose 2, or the water discharge direction of the shower head 1 can be tilted within a maximum angle θ of 30° relative to the direction in which the axis CA extends.

[0026] Furthermore, the shower head 1 is equipped with a spherical portion 31b of a ball member 31, and the shower hose 2 is equipped with a covering member 32 that supports the spherical portion 31b in a watertight state, allowing the shower head 1 to rotate 360 ​​degrees around axis CA and tilt within a maximum angle θ of 30° with respect to axis CA, a rotating support member 33, a first packing 34, a joint member 36, and a cover member 37. An annular second packing 35 is provided between the joint member 36 and the cover member 37. As a result, even if water leaks from the first packing 34 of the connecting member 3 between the joint member 36 and the cover member 37 when water is discharged from the shower head 1, the second packing 35 is provided between the joint member 36 and the cover member 37, so water leakage from the connecting member 3 to the outside can be suppressed.

[0027] Furthermore, since the second packing 35 has a roughly U-shaped cross-section when cut along the plane including the axis CA, it deforms in the direction that opens the U-shape when water pressure is applied, thus more effectively suppressing water leakage. When the second packing 35 deforms in the direction that opens the U-shape, relative rotation between the joint member 36 and the cover member 37 becomes difficult, but in this embodiment, relative rotation between the joint member 36 and the cover member 37 is not required, so no problem occurs.

[0028] Although specific embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to their appearance and configuration, and various modifications, additions, and deletions are possible without altering the essence of the invention. For example, the following can be made.

[0029] 1. In the above embodiment, the shower head 1 is fitted with a ball member 31, and the shower hose 2 is fitted with a covering member 32, a rotating support member 33, and a first packing 34. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the shower head 1 may be fitted with a covering member 32, a rotating support member 33, and a first packing 34, and the shower hose 2 may be fitted with a ball member 31.

[0030] 2. In the above embodiment, the second packing 35 was adopted in which the cross-section when cut with respect to the plane including the axis CA is substantially U-shaped. However, it is not limited to this, and packings with a circular or polygonal cross-section when cut with respect to the plane including the axis CA can also be used.

[0031] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than by the description of the embodiments above, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 1 Shower head, 2 Shower hose, 3 Connecting member (ball joint), 31 Ball member (ball part), 32 Covering member (ball covering part), 33 Rotating support member (ball covering part), 34 First packing (ball covering part), 35 Second packing (ball covering part), 36 Joint member (ball covering part), 37 Cover member (ball covering part), C Center point, CA Axis, θ Maximum angle

Claims

1. A connection structure between a shower head and a shower hose, A flexible shower hose is connected to the shower head via a ball joint in a watertight manner. The ball portion of the ball joint is provided on either the shower head or the shower hose, and the ball covering portion of the ball joint is provided on the other, which supports the ball portion so that it can rotate 360° around the central axis of the shower hose and tilt at a predetermined angle relative to the central axis of the shower hose while maintaining a watertight state. The ball covering portion is provided with a first packing that slidably contacts the ball portion, and an annular second packing on the other side of the first packing to prevent water from leaking out of the ball covering portion when water is discharged from the shower head. The first packing has a cylindrical shape with a receiving hole formed in the center of a cylindrical member having the same axis as the central axis of the shower hose, and the receiving hole has a first inner circumferential surface portion which is part of the side surface portion of the cylinder centered on the axis, and a second inner circumferential surface portion which is connected to the first inner circumferential surface portion and is spherical in shape substantially the same as the ball portion, It has a joint member that connects to the shower hose, The aforementioned joint member has a packing retaining portion, The aforementioned ball portion has a spherical part, The ball covering portion comprises a covering member that surrounds the spherical portion, a rotating support member that has a support hole having a spherical inner surface substantially identical to that of the spherical portion and supports the spherical portion so that it can slide in the circumferential and tilting directions, and a cover member that is attached to the joint member. The covering member is provided with a screwable threaded portion, The first packing is positioned on the surface of the packing holding portion, with the first inner circumferential surface portion in contact with the packing holding portion and the second inner circumferential surface portion in contact with the spherical portion. The covering member is fixed to the cover member by screwing, the sphere A shower head and shower hose connection structure in which the body is pressed against the second inner circumferential surface of the first packing via the rotating support member.

2. In claim 1, The second packing is a connection structure between a shower head and a shower hose, in which the cross-section, when cut by a plane perpendicular to the direction in which it extends in an annular shape, is approximately U-shaped.

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