Faucet and guide member

Abstract

To provide a guide member that can reduce a load applied to a wiring member when attaching the guide member.SOLUTION: A guide member 40 comprises: a cylindrical wall 42; and a first engagement wall 43A that is connected to an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 42 and has an engagement part 48 that engages with an inner peripheral surface of a faucet body. The first engagement wall 43A comprises: a vertical wall part 44 that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 42; a first horizontal wall part 45 that extends from the vertical wall part 44 toward one side in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall 42; and a second horizontal wall part 46 that is connected to the first horizontal wall part 45 and extends further toward the other side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall 42 than the vertical wall part 44. The first horizontal wall part 45 forms a wire insertion hole 47 between the first horizontal wall part and the cylindrical wall 42. The second horizontal wall part 46 is provided with the engagement part 48 on the outer peripheral surface. A first gap S1 is provided on an inner surface side of the second horizontal wall part 46 to allow the second horizontal wall part 46 to deflect toward the inner surface side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a faucet and a guide member.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a sensor faucet having a hose inside is known. Such a sensor faucet includes a cylindrical faucet body, a flexible hose inserted inside the faucet body, a head portion attached to the tip of the hose, and a human body detection sensor provided at the tip of the faucet body.

[0003] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a guide member through which a wiring member extending from the hose and the sensor is inserted may be provided inside the faucet body. The guide member is a member for positioning the hose and the wiring member at a predetermined position in the radial direction inside the faucet body.

[0004] The guide member of Patent Document 1 is a C-ring-shaped member having an opening at one location in the circumferential direction, and its inner region is a hose insertion hole. Further, a wiring insertion hole is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the guide member by partially recessing the inner peripheral surface, and a ridge-shaped locking portion locked to the faucet body is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the guide member.

[0005] The guide member is inserted into the faucet body by inserting the hose and the wiring member through the hose insertion hole and the wiring insertion hole, and while reducing the diameter in the direction of narrowing the opening by elastic deformation, pushing it into the faucet body. Then, when the locking portion reaches the groove-shaped locked portion provided on the faucet body, it expands in diameter and returns to the original state, and the locking portion fits into the locked portion, whereby the guide member is attached to the faucet body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

[0007] The guide member described in Patent Document 1 is reduced in diameter when attached to the faucet body, in a direction that narrows the opening. At this time, the wiring insertion hole, which is a recess formed on the inner circumferential surface of the guide member, is also narrowed. As a result, the wiring member inserted through the wiring insertion hole is compressed by the guide member, which could potentially put a load on the wiring member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The faucet in embodiment 1 comprises a cylindrical faucet body, a hose and wiring member inserted into the faucet body, and a guide member attached to the inner circumferential surface of the base end of the faucet body to support the hose and wiring member, wherein the guide member comprises a cylindrical wall having a hose insertion hole formed on its inside, and one or more locking walls connected to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall and having a locking portion that engages with the inner circumferential surface of the faucet body, wherein at least one of the locking walls protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall in a plan view in the axial direction of the cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall comprises a vertical wall portion, a first horizontal wall portion extending from the vertical wall portion toward one side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall, and a second horizontal wall portion connected to the vertical wall portion or the first horizontal wall portion and extending toward the other side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall from the vertical wall portion, wherein one of the first horizontal wall portion and the second horizontal wall portion is a wiring horizontal wall portion that forms a wiring insertion hole between it and the cylindrical wall, and the other of the first horizontal wall portion and the second horizontal wall portion is a locking horizontal wall portion on which the locking portion is provided on the inner surface side of the locking horizontal wall portion, and a gap is provided on the inner surface side of the locking horizontal wall portion to allow bending toward the inner surface side of the locking horizontal wall portion.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the guide member 40 is inserted into the faucet body while its diameter is reduced by pushing the locking side wall radially inward. At this time, the locking side wall bends toward the gap due to the force applied radially inward. On the other hand, due to the lever principle, a force opposite to the above force is generated in the wiring side wall, with the connection point between the vertical wall and the wiring side wall or locking side wall as the fulcrum.

[0010] The force in the opposite direction described above will attempt to move the wiring side wall away from the cylindrical wall, that is, in a direction that widens the wiring insertion hole. This makes it difficult for the wiring side wall to move in a direction that narrows the wiring insertion hole. As a result, it is possible to suppress the compression of the wiring member inserted into the wiring insertion hole by the guide member, which is reduced in diameter during installation. Therefore, the load applied to the wiring member when installing the guide member can be reduced.

[0011] Embodiment 2 is the faucet of Embodiment 1, wherein the second side wall portion is connected to the first side wall portion, the first side wall portion is the wiring side wall portion, and the second side wall portion is the locking side wall portion.

[0012] According to the above configuration, when the second horizontal wall is pushed radially inward to reduce the diameter of the guide member, a force acts on the first horizontal wall in a direction that widens the wiring insertion hole, with the connection point between the first horizontal wall and the vertical wall as the fulcrum. In this case, the second horizontal wall and the vertical wall are connected, and compared to a configuration in which the above force acts on the first horizontal wall with the connection point between the second horizontal wall and the vertical wall as the fulcrum, the first locking wall moves more easily in a direction that widens the wiring insertion hole. Therefore, the effect of suppressing compression of the wiring member inserted in the wiring insertion hole is improved.

[0013] Embodiment 3 is a faucet in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, wherein the guide member includes a knob that protrudes from the base end of the faucet body. With the above configuration, the guide member can be easily removed from the faucet body by pinching the knob.

[0014] Embodiment 4 is a faucet according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 3, wherein a water pipe is inserted into the faucet body, and the guide member includes a pipe support portion that supports the water pipe. According to the above configuration, the water pipe is held at a specific position within the faucet body, making it less likely for the hose and wiring components to interfere with the water pipe within the faucet body.

[0015] Embodiment 5 is a faucet according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein a water pipe is inserted into the faucet body, the water pipe includes a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe through which water at a higher temperature than the water supply pipe flows, and in the guide member, the wiring insertion hole is provided at a position where the distance between it and the water supply pipe is shorter than the distance between it and the hot water supply pipe.

[0016] According to the above configuration, it is possible to suppress the transfer of heat from the hot water pipe to the wiring component inserted through the wiring insertion hole. The guide member of embodiment 6 is used attached to a cylindrical faucet body through which a hose and wiring member are inserted, and is a guide member for supporting the hose and the wiring member, comprising a cylindrical wall having a hose insertion hole formed on its inside, and one or more locking walls connected to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall and having locking portions that engage with the inner circumferential surface of the faucet body, wherein at least one of the locking walls has, in a plan view in the axial direction of the cylindrical wall, a vertical wall portion protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall, and a portion extending from the vertical wall portion to the cylindrical wall The cylindrical wall comprises a first horizontal wall portion extending toward one side in the circumferential direction, and a second horizontal wall portion connected to the vertical wall portion or the first horizontal wall portion and extending toward the other side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall from the vertical wall portion, wherein one of the first horizontal wall portion and the second horizontal wall portion is a wiring horizontal wall portion that forms a wiring insertion hole between itself and the cylindrical wall, and the other of the first horizontal wall portion and the second horizontal wall portion is a locking horizontal wall portion on which the locking portion is provided on the outer circumferential surface, and a gap is provided on the inner surface side of the locking horizontal wall portion to allow bending toward the inner surface side of the locking horizontal wall portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the wiring member when attaching the guide member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a faucet. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the faucet. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the faucet showing a part in cross section. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the guide member. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the guide member. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a top view of the guide member. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 showing the state during attachment of the guide member. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a top view of the guide member of a modified example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a top view of the guide member of a modified example.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, a faucet 10 according to an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described. The faucet 10 of the present embodiment is an automatic faucet that includes a pull-out hose and performs water discharge and stop based on object detection by a sensor.

[0020] (Schematic Structure of the Faucet) As shown in FIG. 1, the faucet 10 is installed on a wall portion 11 that is a counter of a kitchen cabinet.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1-3, the faucet 10 includes a cylindrical faucet body 12 fixed to the wall 11. Inside the faucet body 12 is a valve unit 13, and a flexible hose 14 is retractably inserted through it. A lever 15 for operating the valve unit 13 is located on the top of the faucet body 12. A water outlet head 16 for discharging hot and cold water supplied through the hose 14 is attached to the front of the faucet body 12. A sensor unit 17 for object detection is also attached to the faucet body 12.

[0022] The faucet body 12 comprises a joint 20 that is inserted through a mounting hole 11a provided in the wall portion 11 and extends to the lower part of the wall portion 11, and a body 21 that is connected to the joint 20 and positioned on the wall portion 11.

[0023] The joint 20 is a cylindrical member having an inner and outer circumferential surface with a circular cross-section. A first screw groove 20a for connecting to the faucet body 12 is provided on the upper end of the outer circumferential surface of the joint 20. A second screw groove 20b is provided on the central and lower end of the outer circumferential surface of the joint 20. The outer diameter of the second screw groove 20b is smaller than the outer diameter of the first screw groove 20a. A fixing nut 20c is screwed into the second screw groove 20b. The faucet body 12 is fixed to the wall portion 11 by tightening the fixing nut 20c so that the wall portion 11 is sandwiched between the faucet body 12 and the body main body 21. A guide member 40 is attached to the lower end of the joint 20. Details of the guide member 40 will be described later.

[0024] The body 21 is a branched tubular member having a main pipe 22 and branched pipes 23 that branch off from the main pipe 22. The main pipe 22 is a cylindrical portion that extends diagonally upward from the upper surface of the wall portion 11 and has a base end portion 22a located on the wall portion 11 side and a tip portion 22b located on the opposite side of the base end portion 22a. On the inner circumferential surface of the main pipe 22, within a predetermined range from the base end portion 22a, there is a screw groove 22c that screws into the first screw groove 20a of the joint 20.

[0025] The branch pipe 23 is a cylindrical portion that protrudes forward from the main pipe 22, and has a base end 23a which is the end connected to the main pipe 22, and a tip end 23b located on the opposite side of the base end 23a. The inside of the cylindrical main pipe 22 and the inside of the cylindrical branch pipe 23 are in communication with each other.

[0026] The lower part of the branch pipe 23 is provided with a mounting surface 23c for attaching the sensor unit 17. The mounting surface 23c is provided with a through hole 23d that communicates with the inside of the main pipe 22.

[0027] A valve unit 13 is housed within the main pipe 22 of the body 21. The valve unit 13 comprises a valve member 30 equipped with a valve mechanism, and a water supply pipe 31, a hot water supply pipe 32, and a discharge pipe 33 connected to the valve member 30. The water supply pipe 31 is connected to a water tap (not shown) at the lower part of the wall 11 and is the pipe through which water supplied from the water tap flows. The hot water supply pipe 32 is connected to a hot water tap (not shown) at the lower part of the wall 11 and is the pipe through which hot water (water at a higher temperature than the water supply pipe 31) supplied from the hot water tap flows. The discharge pipe 33 is connected to one end of a hose 14 at the lower part of the wall 11 and is the pipe through which hot and cold water discharged from the water outlet head 16 flows. The valve member 30 adjusts the flow rate and temperature of the hot and cold water discharged from the water outlet head 16 by adjusting the flow rates of the hot and cold water flowing from the water supply pipe 31 and the hot water supply pipe 32 to the discharge pipe 33. Furthermore, an operating shaft 34 for operating the valve member 30 is provided at the upper part of the valve member 30.

[0028] A lever 15 for operating the valve unit 13 is located at the tip 22b of the main pipe 22 of the body 21. The lever 15 is connected to the operating shaft 34 of the valve member 30. The faucet 10 is configured so that the valve member 30 can be operated by operating the lever 15.

[0029] A water discharge head 16 is detachably attached to the tip 23b of the branch pipe 23 of the main body 21. The water discharge head 16 is a component connected to the other end of the hose 14 and has a discharge port 16a that discharges the hot water that has flowed from the discharge pipe 33 into the hose 14.

[0030] The hose 14 is inserted into the faucet body 12, with one end connected to the discharge pipe 33 of the valve unit 13 at the lower part of the wall 11, and the other end connected to the water outlet head 16. Inside the faucet body 12, the hose 14 is inserted sequentially from the lower side of the wall 11 toward the water outlet head 16 through the joint 20, the main pipe 22 of the body 21, and the branch pipe 23. The hose 14 is also housed so as to be movable inside the faucet body 12 so that it can be moved in and out of the faucet body 12 in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the water outlet head 16.

[0031] A sensor unit 17 is attached to the lower mounting surface 23c of the branch pipe 23 of the main body 21. The sensor unit 17 comprises a sensor section 17a having a non-contact sensor and a cable-like wiring member 17b connected to the sensor section 17a. The non-contact sensor is a sensor capable of detecting objects such as the human body without contact. As the non-contact sensor, known non-contact sensors applied to faucets, such as infrared sensors, optical sensors, and ultrasonic sensors, can be used.

[0032] The wiring member 17b includes output wiring for outputting detection signals from the non-contact sensor. The wiring member 17b may be a single wire consisting only of output wiring, or it may be a bundle of output wiring and other wiring. Examples of the other wiring include wiring for supplying power to the non-contact sensor.

[0033] The wiring member 17b is drawn into the body body 21 through a through hole 23d formed in the mounting surface 23c of the body body 21, and is inserted into the main pipe 22 and joint 20 of the body body 21. The tip of the wiring member 17b is then pulled out from the joint 20 to the lower part of the wall 11 and connected to a solenoid valve unit (not shown) provided between the discharge pipe 33 and the hose 14.

[0034] The solenoid valve unit comprises a connecting pipe that connects the discharge pipe 33 and the hose 14, a solenoid valve that switches the open / closed state of the connecting pipe, and a valve control unit that controls the operation of the solenoid valve. The detection signal output from the non-contact sensor of the sensor unit 17a is input to the valve control unit of the solenoid valve unit via the wiring member 17b. The valve control unit controls the opening and closing of the solenoid valve based on the detection signal output from the non-contact sensor.

[0035] (Guide member) Next, with reference to Figures 4-6, the guide member 40 attached to the lower end of the joint 20 will be described.

[0036] The guide member 40 is a member that supports the hose 14 and the wiring member 17b inserted through the joint 20 near the lower end of the joint 20. The guide member 40 guides the movement of the hose 14 when it is inserted into or removed from the joint 20, and also suppresses friction between the hose 14 and the wiring member 17b.

[0037] The guide member 40 has a cylindrical wall 42 in which a hose insertion hole 41 is formed. The inner diameter of the cylindrical wall 42, i.e., the diameter of the hose insertion hole 41, is larger than the hose 14. The outer diameter of the cylindrical wall 42 is smaller than the inner diameter of the lower end of the joint 20. Hereafter, the plan view shown in Figure 6, i.e., the plan view of the guide member 40 viewed from the axial direction of the cylindrical wall 42, will be simply referred to as the plan view.

[0038] The guide member 40 includes a first locking wall 43A and a second locking wall 43B connected to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42. The first locking wall 43A includes a vertical wall portion 44, a first horizontal wall portion 45, and a second horizontal wall portion 46. In a plan view, the vertical wall portion 44 is a wall portion that protrudes radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42. The first horizontal wall portion 45 is connected to the tip of the vertical wall portion 44 and extends toward one side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall 42. The tip 45a of the first horizontal wall portion 45 is separated from the cylindrical wall 42. The second horizontal wall portion 46 is connected to the first horizontal wall portion 45 and extends toward the other side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall 42, beyond the vertical wall portion 44. The tip 46a of the second horizontal wall portion 46 is separated from the cylindrical wall 42. The vertical wall portion 44, the first horizontal wall portion 45, and the second horizontal wall portion 46 of the first locking wall 43A are formed over the entire axial length of the cylindrical wall 42.

[0039] The first lateral wall portion 45 has a first inner surface 45b that is spaced apart from and opposite to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42. The outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42 has an opposing surface 42a that faces the first inner surface 45b of the first lateral wall portion 45. A wiring insertion hole 47, which is a space for inserting a wiring member 17b, is formed between the opposing surface 42a of the cylindrical wall 42 and the first inner surface 45b of the first lateral wall portion 45. Therefore, the first lateral wall portion 45 is a wiring lateral wall portion that forms a wiring insertion hole 47 between itself and the cylindrical wall 42.

[0040] The wiring insertion hole 47 has an opening 47a that opens radially outward from the cylindrical wall 42. The wiring insertion hole 47 is formed along the entire axial direction of the cylindrical wall 42. The plan view shape of the wiring insertion hole 47 is not particularly limited and can be set appropriately according to the shape of the wiring member 17b. In the drawing, as an example, the opposing surfaces 42a of the cylindrical wall 42 and the first inner surface 45b of the first horizontal wall portion 45 are both planar and arranged parallel to each other. In this case, the plan view shape of the wiring insertion hole 47 is enclosed by two parallel sides and sides perpendicular to those two sides (sides of the vertical wall portion 44).

[0041] The second lateral wall portion 46 has a second inner surface 46b that is spaced apart from and opposite to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42. A first gap S1 is provided between the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42 and the second inner surface 46b of the second lateral wall portion 46, which allows the second lateral wall portion 46 to deflect toward the second inner surface 46b. In this embodiment, the first gap S1 has an extended portion S1a that extends between the vertical wall portion 44 and the second inner surface 46b. Furthermore, a claw-shaped locking portion 48 protruding from the outer circumferential surface is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the second lateral wall portion 46, on the side opposite to the second inner surface 46b. Therefore, the second lateral wall portion 46 is a locking lateral wall portion with a locking portion 48 provided on its outer circumferential surface.

[0042] The thickness of each wall portion constituting the first locking wall 43A is not particularly limited and can be set appropriately according to the shape of the wiring member 17b, etc. From the viewpoint of suitably supporting the wiring member 17b inserted through the wiring insertion hole 47, it is preferable that the first horizontal wall portion 45, which is a horizontal wall portion for wiring, is formed thickly in order to increase strength. From the viewpoint of reducing resistance when the locking portion 48 is engaged, it is preferable that the second horizontal wall portion 46, which is a horizontal wall portion for locking, is formed thinly in order to allow for flexibility. For example, the first horizontal wall portion 45 is thicker than the second horizontal wall portion 46. As another example, the first horizontal wall portion 45 is thicker than either or both of the vertical wall portion 44 and the second horizontal wall portion 46. The second horizontal wall portion 46 is thinner than either or both of the vertical wall portion 44 and the first horizontal wall portion 45. Furthermore, the width H1 of the connection portion between the first horizontal wall portion 45 and the vertical wall portion 44 is narrower than the width H2 of the connection portion between the locking wall 49 and the cylindrical wall 42, which will be described later.

[0043] The second locking wall 43B, in plan view, includes a locking wall 49 that extends in an arc from a base end connected to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42, gradually expanding toward one side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall 42. The tip 49a of the locking wall 49 is separated from the cylindrical wall 42. The locking wall 49 has a third inner surface 49b that is separated from and opposite the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42. A second gap S2 is provided between the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42 and the third inner surface 49b of the locking wall 49, allowing the locking wall 49 to deflect toward the third inner surface 49b. Furthermore, a claw-shaped locking portion 50 protruding from the outer circumferential surface is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the second locking wall 43B, on the portion located opposite the third inner surface 49b.

[0044] The outer circumferential surfaces of the first and second lateral wall portions 45 and 46 of the first locking wall 43A, the outer circumferential surface of the second locking wall 43B, and a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42 are formed to form an outer circumferential curved surface C located on the same circumference. The diameter of this curved surface is set to a value slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the lower end of the joint 20. Furthermore, the portion of the outer circumferential surface constituting the outer circumferential curved surface C is the range from the opening 47a on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42 to the connection portion with the second locking wall 43B, toward one side in the circumferential direction.

[0045] A knob portion 51 is provided at the lower part of the outer curved surface C, projecting radially outward. As shown in Figure 8, the knob portion 51 is the part that protrudes from the lower end of the joint 20 when the guide member 40 is attached to the lower end of the joint 20. In the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall 42, a rough surface portion 51a and a flange portion 51b are provided at positions that overlap with the locking portions 48 and 50 of the knob portion 51. The rough surface portion 51a is a part that is formed into a rough surface by providing multiple grooves and protrusions. The flange portion 51b is a part that partially protrudes radially outward. The rough surface portion 51a and the flange portion 51b are auxiliary parts that assist in the operation of removing the guide member 40 from the joint 20 by making it easier for the operator's fingers or nails to catch on them when removing the guide member 40 from the joint 20.

[0046] Furthermore, pipe support portions 52 are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42 to support the water supply pipe 31, the hot water supply pipe 32, and the discharge pipe 33, which are water passage pipes inserted into the joint 20. The pipe support portions 52 are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42 in the portion between the portion facing the second inner surface 46b of the second horizontal wall portion 46 and the portion facing the third inner surface 49b of the locking wall 49, in the portion where the outer circumferential curved surface C is not formed.

[0047] The pipe support portion 52 is a projection extending from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42, and has a water supply pipe support surface 52a that supports the water supply pipe 31, a hot water pipe support surface 52b that supports the hot water pipe 32, and a discharge pipe support surface 52c that supports the discharge pipe 33. The water supply pipe support surface 52a is a concave curved surface that extends in the axial direction of the cylindrical wall 42 and is aligned with the outer circumferential surface of the water supply pipe 31. The hot water pipe support surface 52b is a concave curved surface that extends in the axial direction of the cylindrical wall 42 and is aligned with the outer circumferential surface of the hot water pipe 32. The discharge pipe support surface 52c is a concave curved surface that extends in the axial direction of the cylindrical wall 42 and is aligned with the outer circumferential surface of the discharge pipe 33.

[0048] The water supply pipe support surface 52a, the hot water pipe support surface 52b, and the discharge pipe support surface 52c are arranged in a circumferential direction on the cylindrical wall 42. Furthermore, of the water supply pipe support surface 52a, the hot water pipe support surface 52b, and the discharge pipe support surface 52c, the water supply pipe support surface 52a and the hot water pipe support surface 52b located on both sides in the circumferential direction are lower in height than the discharge pipe support surface 52c located in the center.

[0049] As shown in Figure 7, the guide member 40 is attached to the joint 20 such that its outer curved surface C abuts against the inner surface of the joint 20. The locking portions 48 and 50 of the guide member 40 are fitted into groove-shaped locking portions 20d provided on the inner surface of the joint 20.

[0050] Within the joint 20, the hose 14 is inserted through the hose insertion hole 41 of the guide member 40, and the wiring member 17b is inserted through the wiring insertion hole 47 of the guide member 40. In addition, the water supply pipe 31, the hot water supply pipe 32, and the discharge pipe 33 are inserted through the joint 20 in contact with the water supply pipe support surface 52a, the hot water supply pipe support surface 52b, and the discharge pipe support surface 52c of the guide member 40, respectively.

[0051] Here, the wiring insertion hole 47 of the guide member 40 is located away from the hot water pipe 32. Specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the wiring insertion hole 47 is located in the guide member 40 at a position where the distance D1 between the wiring insertion hole 47 and the water supply pipe 31 is shorter than the distance D2 between the wiring insertion hole 47 and the hot water pipe 32. This suppresses the transfer of heat from the hot water pipe 32 to the wiring member 17b inserted through the wiring insertion hole 47.

[0052] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained along with the method of attaching the guide member 40. As shown in Figure 8, the guide member 40 is used by being attached to the inner circumferential surface of the lower end of the cylindrical joint 20 that constitutes the faucet body 12.

[0053] When installing the guide member 40, first, the hose 14 and wiring member 17b extending from the lower end of the joint 20 are inserted into the hose insertion hole 41 and wiring insertion hole 47 of the guide member 40. Next, the water supply pipe 31, hot water supply pipe 32, and discharge pipe 33 extending from the lower end of the joint 20 are aligned with the water supply pipe support surface 52a, the hot water supply pipe support surface 52b, and the discharge pipe support surface 52c of the guide member 40.

[0054] At this time, the guide member 40 is tilted so that each support surface is aligned with each water pipe, and the guide member 40 is prepared for each water pipe. Here, the water supply pipe support surface 52a and the hot water pipe support surface 52b located on both sides are formed to be lower in height than the discharge pipe support surface 52c located in the center. This prevents the water supply pipe support surface 52a and the hot water pipe support surface 52b of the guide member 40 from interfering with the water supply pipe 31 and the hot water pipe 32 when the guide member 40 is tilted.

[0055] Next, the guide member 40 is moved upward along the hose 14, the wiring member 17b, and each water pipe. Then, the guide member 40 is inserted into the lower end of the joint 20 while the operator pushes the second lateral wall portion 46 of the first locking wall 43A and the locking wall 49 of the second locking wall 43B radially inward by hand, thereby reducing the diameter of the guide member 40.

[0056] At this time, as shown in Figure 9, the second horizontal wall portion 46 of the first locking wall 43A is deflected toward the first gap S1 due to a force F1 applied radially inward. On the other hand, due to the lever principle, a force F2 is generated in the first horizontal wall portion 45 of the first locking wall 43A, with the connection between the first horizontal wall portion 45 and the vertical wall portion 44 as the fulcrum, in the opposite direction to force F1. This force F2 attempts to move the first locking wall 43A toward the opposite surface 42a of the cylindrical wall 42, that is, in the direction that widens the wiring insertion hole 47. As a result, the first horizontal wall portion 45 is less likely to move toward the direction that narrows the wiring insertion hole 47. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the wiring member 17b inserted through the wiring insertion hole 47 from being compressed by the guide member 40, which has been reduced in diameter during installation.

[0057] Then, once the locking portions 48 and 50 of the guide member 40 are inserted into the joint 20, the radial inward pushing by the worker's hand is released, and the guide member 40 is further inserted. When the guide member 40 is inserted to the point where the locking portions 48 and 50 reach the locked portion 20d of the joint 20, the guide member 40 expands in diameter based on its own elasticity, and the locking portions 48 and 50 are locked to the locked portion 20d. As a result, the guide member 40 is fixed to the joint 20 in a state that prevents it from coming loose.

[0058] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) The guide member 40 includes a cylindrical wall 42 having a hose insertion hole 41 formed on its inside, and a first locking wall 43A that is connected to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42 and has a locking portion 48 that engages with the inner circumferential surface of the faucet body 12. The first locking wall 43A includes a vertical wall portion 44 protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42, a first horizontal wall portion 45 extending from the vertical wall portion 44 toward one side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall 42, and a second horizontal wall portion 46 connected to the first horizontal wall portion 45 and extending toward the other side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall 42 from the vertical wall portion 44. The first horizontal wall portion 45 is a wiring horizontal wall portion that forms a wiring insertion hole 47 between itself and the cylindrical wall 42. The second horizontal wall portion 46 is a locking horizontal wall portion with a locking portion 48 provided on its outer circumferential surface. A first gap S1 is provided on the inner surface side of the second horizontal wall portion 46, which allows the second horizontal wall portion 46 to deflect inward.

[0059] With the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the wiring member 17b, which is inserted into the wiring insertion hole 47, from being compressed by the guide member 40, which is reduced in diameter during installation. Therefore, the load applied to the wiring member 17b when installing the guide member 40 can be reduced.

[0060] (2) The second side wall section 46 is connected to the first side wall section 45. According to the above configuration, when the second horizontal wall portion 46 is pushed radially inward to reduce the diameter of the guide member 40, a force F2 acts on the first horizontal wall portion 45, with the connection portion between the first horizontal wall portion 45 and the vertical wall portion 44 as a fulcrum. In this case, compared to a configuration in which the second horizontal wall portion 46 and the vertical wall portion 44 are connected and a force F2 acts on the first horizontal wall portion 45 with the connection portion between the second horizontal wall portion 46 and the vertical wall portion 44 as a fulcrum, the first locking wall 43A moves more easily in the direction that widens the wiring insertion hole 47. Therefore, the effect of suppressing compression of the wiring member 17b inserted through the wiring insertion hole 47 is improved. In addition, since the connection portion of the second horizontal wall portion 46 can be moved to one side in the circumferential direction by a length corresponding to the extension portion S1a in the above embodiment, the second horizontal wall portion 46 can be made longer in the circumferential direction. When the second side wall portion 46 is formed to be elongated in the circumferential direction, the second side wall portion 46 becomes more flexible, making it easier to attach and detach the guide member 40 to the faucet body 12 (joint 20).

[0061] (3) The guide member 40 is provided with a knob portion 51 that protrudes from the base end of the faucet body 12. With the above configuration, when removing the guide member 40 from the faucet body 12, the guide member 40 can be easily removed by pinching the knob portion 51.

[0062] (4) The knob portion 51 is equipped with an auxiliary portion. With the above configuration, the operator's fingers or nails are more likely to catch on the knob 51. Therefore, the operation of removing the guide member 40 from the faucet body 12 becomes even easier.

[0063] (5) The guide member 40 is provided with a pipe support portion 52 that supports the water pipe. According to the above configuration, since the water pipe is held at a specific position within the faucet body 12, interference between the hose 14 and the wiring member 17b and the water pipe within the faucet body 12 becomes less likely.

[0064] (6) In the guide member 40, the wiring insertion hole 47 is provided at a position where the distance D1 between it and the water supply pipe 31 is shorter than the distance D2 between it and the hot water supply pipe 32. According to the above configuration, it is possible to suppress the transfer of heat from the hot water supply pipe 32 to the wiring member 17b inserted through the wiring insertion hole 47.

[0065] This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically. The material constituting the guide member 40 is not particularly limited, and any material that can form the first locking wall 43A and the second locking wall 43B in an elastically deformable manner is acceptable. For example, the material constituting the guide member 40 is resin.

[0066] The wiring member 17b is not limited to the wiring of the sensor unit 17. For example, the faucet 10 may have another electronic component instead of, or in addition to, the sensor unit 17, and the wiring member 17b may be the wiring of that electronic component. Furthermore, there may be multiple wiring members 17b.

[0067] The wiring insertion hole 47 may be provided at a position where the distance D1 between it and the water supply pipe 31 is longer than the distance D2 between it and the hot water supply pipe 32, or at a position where both distances are equal. The locking portions 48 and 50 provided on the guide member 40 may be recessed, and the locked portion 20d provided on the faucet body 12 (joint 20) may be a protruding portion, so that the relationship between the recessed and concave parts of the locking portions 48 and 50 and the locked portion 20d is reversed.

[0068] The shape of the first locking wall 43A is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as shown in Figure 10, the first locking wall 43A may be formed in a T-shape in plan view and may have a shape comprising a vertical wall portion 44, a first horizontal wall portion 45 connected to the vertical wall portion 44, and a second horizontal wall portion 46 connected to the vertical wall portion 44.

[0069] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the second side wall portion 46 may be designated as a wiring side wall portion, and the first side wall portion 45 may be designated as a locking side wall portion. In the example shown in Figure 11, a wiring insertion hole 47 for inserting a wiring member 17b is formed between the second inner surface 46b of the second side wall portion 46 and the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42. A first gap S1 is provided between the first inner surface 45b of the first side wall portion 45 and the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 42, which allows the second side wall portion 46 to bend toward the second inner surface 46b side. A locking portion 48 protruding from the outer circumferential surface is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the first side wall portion 45.

[0070] Regarding the guide member 40, in the above embodiment, two locking walls, a first locking wall 43A and a second locking wall 43B, were provided. However, the number of locking walls may be one or three or more. However, at least one locking wall is the first locking wall 43A. Furthermore, the guide member 40 may have multiple first locking walls 43A. For example, the second locking wall 43B in the above embodiment may be replaced with the first locking wall 43A, resulting in a guide member 40 having two first locking walls 43A.

[0071] The shape of the pipe support portion 52 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the heights of the water supply pipe support surface 52a, the hot water pipe support surface 52b, and the discharge pipe support surface 52c may be the same or different. Furthermore, the pipe support portion 52 only needs to have at least one of the water supply pipe support surface 52a, the hot water pipe support surface 52b, and the discharge pipe support surface 52c. Also, the pipe support portion 52 may be omitted.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the knob portion 51 was provided with a roughened surface portion 51a and a flange portion 51b as auxiliary parts, but the auxiliary part may be just one of the roughened surface portion 51a and the flange portion 51b. Furthermore, the type of auxiliary part is not limited to the roughened surface portion 51a and the flange portion 51b, and any configuration that provides the knob portion 51 with a function to assist in the operation of removing the guide member 40 is acceptable. Also, the auxiliary part may be omitted.

[0073] The knob portion 51 may be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] S1...Gap, 10...Faucet, 12...Faucet body, 14...Hose, 17b...Wiring component, 20...Joint, 21...Body main body, 40...Guide component, 41...Hose insertion hole, 42...Cylindrical wall, 43A...First locking wall, 44...Vertical wall section, 45...First horizontal wall section, 46...Second horizontal wall section, 47...Wiring insertion hole, 48, 50...Locking section.

Claims

1. A cylindrical faucet body, A hose and wiring member inserted into the faucet body, A faucet comprising a guide member attached to the inner circumferential surface of the base end of the faucet body, which supports the hose and the wiring member, The guide member is A cylindrical wall with a hose insertion hole formed on the inside, The system comprises one or more locking walls having locking portions that are connected to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall and engage with the inner circumferential surface of the faucet body, At least one of the locking walls, in a plan view taken in the axial direction of the cylindrical wall, A vertical wall portion protruding from the outer surface of the cylindrical wall, A first horizontal wall portion extending from the vertical wall portion toward one side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall, It comprises a second horizontal wall portion connected to the vertical wall portion or the first horizontal wall portion, and extending further toward the other side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall than the vertical wall portion, One of the first and second side wall portions is a wiring side wall portion that forms a wiring insertion hole between itself and the cylindrical wall, The other of the first and second side wall portions is a locking side wall portion on which the locking portion is provided on the outer circumferential surface. A faucet characterized in that a gap is provided on the inner surface side of the locking side wall portion to allow the locking side wall portion to bend inward.

2. The second side wall is connected to the first side wall, The faucet according to claim 1, wherein the first side wall portion is the side wall portion for wiring, and the second side wall portion is the side wall portion for locking.

3. The faucet according to claim 1, wherein the guide member comprises a knob portion that protrudes from the base end of the faucet body.

4. The faucet body is equipped with a water pipe inserted into it, The faucet according to claim 1, wherein the guide member comprises a pipe support portion that supports the water pipe.

5. The faucet body is equipped with a water pipe inserted into it, The water supply pipe includes a water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe through which water at a higher temperature than that of the water supply pipe flows. The faucet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the guide member is provided at a position where the distance between it and the water supply pipe is shorter than the distance between it and the hot water supply pipe.

6. A guide member used attached to a cylindrical faucet body through which a hose and wiring member are inserted, for supporting the hose and the wiring member, A cylindrical wall with a hose insertion hole formed on the inside, The system comprises one or more locking walls having locking portions that are connected to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall and engage with the inner circumferential surface of the faucet body, At least one of the locking walls, in a plan view taken in the axial direction of the cylindrical wall, A vertical wall portion protruding from the outer surface of the cylindrical wall, A first horizontal wall portion extending from the vertical wall portion toward one side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall, It comprises a second horizontal wall portion connected to the vertical wall portion or the first horizontal wall portion, and extending further toward the other side in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall than the vertical wall portion, One of the first and second side wall portions is a wiring side wall portion that forms a wiring insertion hole between itself and the cylindrical wall, The other of the first and second side wall portions is a locking side wall portion on which the locking portion is provided on the outer circumferential surface. A guide member characterized in that a gap is provided on the inner surface side of the locking side wall portion to allow deflection toward the inner surface side of the locking side wall portion.

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