Drain port device
The drain port device addresses dirt and limescale accumulation by maintaining an inclined cover surface above the wall boundary, ensuring easy cleaning and obstruction-free use with efficient drainage and reduced mechanical stress.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- JAPAN ALPHA
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing drain port devices are prone to dirt and limescale accumulation on the cover portion due to horizontal positioning, which can lead to reduced usability and cleanliness issues, and the cover may obstruct the bottom wall when in use.
A drain port device with a cover portion that maintains an inclined surface and is positioned above the boundary between the bottom and connecting walls, featuring a flat surface that aligns with a connecting plane, and includes a support mechanism for easy switching between open and closed states, with a water passage gap designed for efficient drainage.
Effectively prevents dirt and limescale adhesion, enhances usability by avoiding obstruction, improves cleaning ease, and ensures smooth operation with minimal mechanical stress on components.
Smart Images
Figure JP2025000979_23072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Drain port device
[0001] The present invention relates to a drain port device provided corresponding to the drain port of a tank body.
[0002] Conventionally, a drain port device has been provided corresponding to the drain port of a tank body (such as a bathtub or a washbasin).
[0003] As a drain port device, it has a cylindrical drain port member inserted into the drain port of the bottom wall portion of the tank body, and a cylindrical pipe attached in series to the drain port member, etc., and is configured such that drainage flows through the drain port member and the pipe (for example, see Patent Document 1, etc.).
[0004] Further, it has also been proposed to provide a drain port device (drain plug device) corresponding to a drain recess (hanging portion and overhanging portion) formed in a portion from the bottom wall portion to the side wall portion of the tank body and having a shape that sinks downward (for example, see Patent Document 2, etc.). This drain port device includes a cylindrical drain port member inserted into the drain port (mounting hole) at the bottom of the drain recess, a support shaft mechanism (operating shaft mechanism) having a vertically movable support shaft (operating shaft), and a cover portion (plug lid) that rotates as the support shaft moves up and down. And when the support shaft moves upward, the cover portion becomes inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, so that the water adhering to the surface (upper surface) of the cover portion flows down along the surface. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the retention of water on the surface of the cover portion, and thus it is possible to prevent the adhesion of scale, dirt, etc. to the cover portion.
[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-125798, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-204200
[0006] However, in the above-described drain port device, in a state where the support shaft moves downward, the surface of the cover portion becomes substantially horizontal. Therefore, if the cover portion is left in this state for a long time, there is a risk that dirt and scale will adhere to the surface of the cover portion.
[0007] Furthermore, in this drainage device, when the cover is angled horizontally, the portion of the cover's surface located on the bottom wall side (the lower end) is positioned below the bottom wall. As a result, water that flows down the bottom wall towards the drain recess is more likely to come into contact with the lower end of the cover's surface, which in turn may lead to dirt and limescale accumulating on that lower end.
[0008] Furthermore, since the drain recess is located in the area extending from the bottom wall to the side wall, a portion of the cover will be located in the bottom wall. Consequently, when using the bottom wall (for example, when placing your feet (especially when bathing) or objects on the bottom wall), the cover may get in the way, potentially reducing the usability of the bottom wall.
[0009] This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a drainage device that can very effectively suppress the adhesion of dirt and limescale, and can also improve convenience.
[0010] 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.
[0011] Means 1. A drain outlet device provided in correspondence with a drain outlet of a tank body having a bottom wall, side walls, and connecting walls located between the bottom wall and side walls and connecting them, wherein the surface of the bottom wall has a shape that gradually slopes downward toward the connecting wall, the connecting wall has a drain recess formed therein which is recessed downward and has an opening that opens on the surface of the connecting wall, the drain outlet is provided on the bottom side of the drain recess, the portion of the surface of the connecting wall that is located between the portions continuous with the bottom wall and the side walls has a flat connecting plane portion that is inclined with respect to the horizontal, and a cover portion that has a flat surface and whose surface is always maintained inclined with respect to the horizontal, the cover portion is configured to be positioned in the opening with its surface flush with the connecting plane portion, and the surface of the cover portion is provided at a position that does not reach the bottom wall portion when it is flush with the connecting plane portion, and is configured to be located above the boundary portion between the bottom wall and the connecting wall portion.
[0012] According to the above-described means 1, the cover portion has a flat surface, and this surface is always maintained in an inclined state with respect to the horizontal direction. Therefore, the adhesion of dirt and limescale to the surface of the cover portion can be effectively suppressed.
[0013] Furthermore, the surface of the cover portion is configured to be positioned above the boundary portion between the bottom wall portion and the connecting wall portion when the cover portion is flush with the connecting plane portion. In other words, when the surface of the cover portion is flush with the connecting plane portion, the lower edge of the surface of the cover portion is positioned above the boundary portion between the bottom wall portion and the connecting wall portion. As a result, water that flows down the bottom wall portion towards the drain recess is less likely to come into contact with the lower edge of the surface of the cover portion, thus more effectively preventing the accumulation of dirt and limescale on the lower edge of the surface.
[0014] In addition, the portion of the connecting wall surface located between the bottom wall and the side wall is a flat connecting surface inclined horizontally. Therefore, compared to a curved surface rather than a flat one, water flows more easily down the surface of the connecting wall. This helps to suppress the adhesion of dirt and limescale to the surface of the connecting wall.
[0015] Therefore, according to the above-described means 1, the synergistic effects of each of the above-described actions make it possible to suppress the adhesion of dirt and limescale very effectively. Furthermore, because the adhesion of dirt and limescale is suppressed very effectively, even if dirt or limescale does adhere, it becomes easier to remove it, thereby improving the ease of cleaning.
[0016] Furthermore, according to the above-described means 1, the surface of the cover portion is positioned flush with the connecting plane portion and does not extend to the bottom wall portion. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the cover portion from getting in the way when using the bottom wall portion (for example, when placing feet (especially when bathing) or objects on the bottom wall portion). This makes it possible to use the bottom wall portion more widely and improves convenience.
[0017] In addition, the surface of the cover and the connecting plane are both flat. Therefore, when the surface of the cover is flush with the connecting plane, a good appearance quality can be obtained. Furthermore, because the surface of the cover and the connecting plane are both flat, cleaning them becomes easier.
[0018] In addition, the surface of the bottom wall has a shape that gradually slopes downward towards the connecting wall. Therefore, water that flows down the surface of the bottom wall towards the connecting wall can easily flow into the drainage recess. This allows for good drainage performance.
[0019] Furthermore, even if some foreign matter (such as sand or other fine particles contained in water) that does not flow into the drain recess accumulates in the tank body, this foreign matter tends to adhere to the boundary between the bottom wall and the connecting wall, and its vicinity. Therefore, even if such foreign matter adheres, cleaning only requires focusing on this boundary area and its vicinity. This makes cleaning easier and further improves convenience.
[0020] Furthermore, "flush surface" means that when the direction perpendicular to the connecting plane is considered the height direction, the surfaces of the connecting plane and the cover are at the same height. However, "flush surface" does not mean strictly flush; it also includes cases where there is a very slight difference in height (for example, 3 mm or less).
[0021] Means 2. The drainage device according to Means 1, characterized in that an annular water passage gap is provided between the outer edge of the cover portion and the drainage recess, and the water passage gap is configured such that the size of the gap corresponding to the lower part of the outer edge of the cover portion is larger than the size of the gap corresponding to other parts of the outer edge.
[0022] According to the above-described means 2, the water passage gap is configured such that the size of the gap corresponding to the lower outer edge of the cover is larger than the size of the gaps corresponding to other parts of the outer edge. Therefore, water that flows along the surface of the bottom wall towards the connecting wall can flow more easily into the drain recess. This makes it possible to obtain even better drainage performance.
[0023] On the other hand, since the size of the gaps corresponding to areas other than the lower outer edge of the cover portion in the water passage gap can be made relatively small, a better appearance quality can be obtained compared to the case where the size of the gaps is large around the entire circumference of the water passage gap.
[0024] Means 3. The drain port device according to Means 1, comprising a support portion that can move up and down, and a support mechanism disposed within the drain recess, wherein the cover portion is attached to the support portion and is configured to switch the open and closed state of the drain port in accordance with the up and down movement of the support portion.
[0025] According to the above-described means 3, the open / closed state of the drain outlet can be switched by moving the support part up and down using the cover part. Therefore, it is possible to easily switch between a state in which water can be stored in the tank and a state in which it cannot, further enhancing convenience.
[0026] Means 4. The drain outlet device according to Means 3, further comprising a restricting portion provided on the back side of the cover portion and capable of moving up and down in close proximity to the drain recess when the support portion moves up and down, wherein the restricting portion is configured to restrict further displacement of the cover portion by contacting the drain recess when the cover portion is displaced in a direction intersecting the direction of up and down movement.
[0027] According to the above-described means 4, when the support portion moves up and down, the restricting portion moves up and down while being close to the drain recess. Therefore, the movement of the cover portion is guided by the restricting portion and the drain recess, allowing the cover portion to move up and down smoothly.
[0028] Furthermore, even if the cover is displaced in a direction intersecting the vertical movement direction, for example, due to being pressed, the restricting part can prevent further displacement of the cover. Therefore, excessive load can be prevented from being applied to the cover and support parts, and consequently, the support mechanism can be protected.
[0029] Means 5. The drain outlet device according to Means 4, characterized in that the restricting portion has a depth-direction restricting portion that restricts further displacement of the cover portion by contacting the drain recess when the cover portion is displaced toward the side wall portion, and a width-direction restricting portion that restricts further displacement of the cover portion by contacting the drain recess when the cover portion is displaced in the width direction.
[0030] Furthermore, "width direction" can be defined as the direction perpendicular to the inclination direction of the cover surface.
[0031] According to the above means 5, when the cover portion is displaced toward the side wall portion, for example, due to the surface of the cover portion being pressed, the rearward restricting portion comes into contact with the drainage recess, thereby restricting further displacement of the cover portion. On the other hand, when the cover portion is displaced in the width direction, for example, due to an object getting caught on the cover portion, the widthward restricting portion comes into contact with the drainage recess, thereby restricting further displacement of the cover portion. Therefore, excessive loads on the cover portion and support portion can be prevented more reliably, and the support mechanism can be protected more effectively.
[0032] Furthermore, the above-described means 5 is particularly effective in a configuration in which the open / closed state of the drain port is switched by pressing on the surface of the cover portion, as described in means 6 below.
[0033] Means 6. The drain port device according to Means 3, characterized in that the support mechanism is configured to alternately hold the support at a predetermined upper position to maintain the drain port in an open state, and hold the support at a predetermined lower position to maintain the drain port in a closed state, by pressing the support at a predetermined upper position.
[0034] According to the above-described means 6, the open / closed state of the drain outlet can be easily switched by a simple method of pressing the surface of the cover. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide an operating unit (for example, an operating button) separate from the cover for switching the open / closed state of the drain outlet, the device can be simplified and miniaturized.
[0035] Means 7. The drain port device according to means 3, characterized in that the cover portion is configured such that its surface is flush with the connecting plane portion when the drain port is in the open position.
[0036] Depending on the type of basin and how it is used, it is often common to use the basin with the drain open. For example, if the basin is a washbasin or sink, or if it is a bathtub that is primarily used in conjunction with showering, it is common to use the basin with the drain open.
[0037] Based on this, the above-described means 7 is configured such that when the drain port is in the open position, the surface of the cover portion becomes flush with the connecting plane portion. Therefore, when the tank is often used with the drain port open, it becomes possible to more reliably obtain good appearance quality.
[0038] Means 8. The drain outlet device according to Means 3, characterized in that the cover portion is configured such that its surface is flush with the connecting plane portion when the drain outlet is closed. In the case of a bathtub, the tank is often used with the drain outlet closed.
[0039] Based on this, the above-described means 8 is configured such that when the drain port is closed, the surface of the cover portion becomes flush with the connecting plane portion. Therefore, when the tank is often used with the drain port closed, a good appearance quality can be more reliably obtained.
[0040] Furthermore, the technical aspects related to each of the above means may be combined as appropriate. For example, at least one of the technical aspects related to means 3 to 8 may be combined with the technical aspects related to means 2.
[0041] This is a perspective view showing the drain port device when the drain port is in the open position. This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line J-J in Figure 1. This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line K-K in Figure 2. This is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 2. This is a perspective view of the cover portion. This is a perspective view showing the drain port device when the drain port is in the closed position. This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line L-L in Figure 6. In another embodiment, this is a perspective view showing the drain port device when the drain port is in the open position. In another embodiment, this is a perspective view showing the cover portion with a recess. This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line M-M in Figure 9.
[0042] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the drain device 1 is a device provided in accordance with the drain 101 of the washbasin 100, which serves as the tank body, and in this embodiment, it has the function of switching the open and closed state of the drain 101. Before describing the drain device 1, the configuration of the washbasin 100 will be described first.
[0043] The washbasin 100 has a bowl shape capable of storing water, and has a bottom wall portion 102, a side wall portion 103, and a connecting wall portion 104.
[0044] The bottom wall portion 102 constitutes the bottom part of the washbasin 100. The surface of the bottom wall portion 102 (the surface located on the water storage space side of the washbasin 100) has an inclined surface shape that gradually descends toward the connecting wall portion 104.
[0045] The side wall portion 103 constitutes the side wall portion of the washbasin 100. The side wall portion 103 is shaped to extend in a substantially vertical direction and has a steeper gradient than the connecting wall portion 104.
[0046] The connecting wall portion 104 is located between the bottom wall portion 102 and the side wall portion 103 and connects the bottom wall portion 102 and the side wall portion 103. A drainage recess 105 is formed in the connecting wall portion 104.
[0047] The drainage recess 105 has a shape that is recessed downward and has an opening portion 105a that opens on the surface of the connecting wall portion 104. The opening portion 105a is located only within the surface of the connecting wall portion 104. That is, the opening portion 105a is set so as not to protrude toward the bottom wall portion 102 or the side wall portion 103 side.
[0048] In the present embodiment, the drainage recess 105 includes a hanging portion 106 having a rectangular cylindrical shape that extends vertically downward, and a recess bottom portion 107 that protrudes inward from the lower end portion of the hanging portion 106 and constitutes the bottom part of the drainage recess 105. The recess bottom portion 107 has a plate shape that extends in the horizontal direction, and a rectangular drainage port 101 is formed to penetrate therethrough at the center thereof. Therefore, the drainage port 101 is provided on the bottom side of the drainage recess 105. In the present embodiment, a through hole for passing a predetermined male screw (not shown) is formed in the recess bottom portion 107. This male screw is used to connect the drainage port member 2 and the pipe 6, which will be described later, respectively.
[0049] Furthermore, a connecting plane portion 104a is formed on the surface of the connecting wall portion 104 (the surface located on the water storage space side of the washbasin 100). The connecting plane portion 104a is a flat surface inclined with respect to the horizontal direction and is provided on the surface of the connecting wall portion 104 between the portion of the connecting wall portion 104 that is continuous with the bottom wall portion 102 and the portion of the connecting wall portion 104 that is continuous with the side wall portion 103. The surface of the portion of the connecting wall portion 104 that is continuous with the bottom wall portion 102 and the side wall portion 103 has a curved shape with a circular arc in cross-section in order to smoothly continue with the bottom wall portion 102 and the side wall portion 103.
[0050] Next, the drainage device 1 will be described. The drainage device 1 comprises a drainage member 2, a screw covering portion 3, a support shaft mechanism 4, and a cover portion 5. In this embodiment, the support shaft mechanism 4 corresponds to the "support mechanism".
[0051] The drain member 2 is a cylindrical component whose inner space constitutes a drainage channel from the washbasin 100, and is inserted into the drain 101 with its own central axis substantially aligned with the central axis of the drain 101. A flange portion 21 is formed at the upper end of the drain member 2, projecting radially outward, and a pair of through holes for passing the male screw are formed in the flange portion 21.
[0052] Then, while inserting the drain member 2 into the drain opening 101, the male thread is screwed through the through-holes in the flange 21 and the recess bottom 107 into the female thread 61 provided in the predetermined pipe 6, and the recess bottom 107 is sandwiched between the flange 21 and the upper end surface of the pipe 6, thereby connecting the drain member 2 and the pipe 6 in series and attaching both to the washbasin 100. Furthermore, annular sealing members 7 and 8 made of an elastically deformable material (for example, resin or rubber) are placed between the lower surface of the flange 21 and the upper surface of the recess bottom 107, and between the upper end surface of the pipe 6 and the lower surface of the recess bottom 107, respectively. These sealing members 7 and 8 prevent water leakage from between the drain member 2 and the pipe 6 and the washbasin 100.
[0053] In addition, mounting protrusions 22 for attaching the support shaft mechanism 4 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the drain member 2. Multiple mounting protrusions 22 are provided at intervals along the circumferential direction of the drain member 2.
[0054] The screw covering portion 3 has a rectangular ring shape corresponding to the planar shape of the flange portion 21, and is positioned on the flange portion 21 to cover the male thread for connecting the drain outlet member 2 and the piping 6. By providing the screw covering portion 3, it is possible to improve the appearance quality and ease of cleaning.
[0055] The support shaft mechanism 4 is a mechanism that has functions such as moving the cover portion 5 up and down, and maintaining the cover portion 5 in an upward or downward position. At least a part of the support shaft mechanism 4 is located in the drain recess 105, and comprises a case portion 41, a spring portion 42, a support shaft 43, and a rotating ring 44. In this embodiment, the support shaft 43 corresponds to the "support portion".
[0056] The case portion 41 comprises an inner cylinder portion 411 which is cylindrical overall, a rectangular annular outer ring portion 412 which is provided concentrically with the inner cylinder portion 411 on the outside of the inner cylinder portion 411, and a connecting portion 413 which connects the inner cylinder portion 411 and the outer ring portion 412.
[0057] The inner cylinder portion 411 has a first inner cylinder component 4111 and a second inner cylinder component 4112, which are both cylindrical in shape.
[0058] The first inner cylinder component 4111 is integrally formed with the outer ring portion 412 and the connecting portion 413, and a plurality of engaging teeth 4111a are provided on its inner circumference at equal intervals along the circumferential direction (see Figure 4). Each engaging tooth 4111a is a projection extending along the axial direction of the inner cylinder portion 411, and grooves extending in the axial direction of the inner cylinder portion 411 are formed between each engaging tooth 4111a. Furthermore, an engaging recess 4111b is formed at the lower end of the engaging tooth 4111a (the portion facing the second inner cylinder component 4112 side) for engaging with the engaged projection 44a of the rotating ring 44, which will be described later.
[0059] Furthermore, a retaining projection 4111c that protrudes inward is formed at the upper end of the first inner cylinder component 4111. The retaining projection 4111c serves to prevent the support shaft 43 from coming out of the upper end opening of the inner cylinder 411.
[0060] The second inner cylinder component 4112 is assembled to the first inner cylinder component 4111 by being inserted through the lower end opening of the first inner cylinder component 4111 into the inner circumference of the first inner cylinder component 4111. The second inner cylinder component 4112 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with a bottom at its lower end, and a hole is formed through the center of the bottom, allowing water that has entered the inner cylinder component 411 to be discharged to the outside of the inner cylinder component 411 through this hole.
[0061] Furthermore, guide teeth 4112a are formed on the upper part of the second inner cylinder component 4112 (see Figure 4). Multiple guide teeth 4112a are provided at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the second inner cylinder component 4112. The tip surface of each guide tooth 4112a (the surface facing the first inner cylinder component 4111 side) is inclined with respect to the circumferential direction of the second inner cylinder component 4112.
[0062] The outer ring portion 412 has a rectangular ring shape corresponding to the inner circumferential shape of the drain member 2 and is positioned along the inner circumferential surface of the drain member 2. The outer ring portion 412 is locked to the mounting projection 22 of the drain member 2, thereby holding the support shaft mechanism 4 within the drain recess 105 and within the drain member 2.
[0063] The connecting portion 413 extends from the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder portion 411 toward the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring portion 412, connecting the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder portion 411 and the inner circumferential surface of the outer ring portion 412. In this embodiment, only one pair of connecting portions 413 are provided at positions that straddle the central axis of the inner cylinder portion 411, and each connecting portion 413 extends in a direction parallel to the short side direction of the rectangular ring-shaped outer ring portion 412 (left-right direction in Figure 2, front-back direction in Figure 3).
[0064] The spring portion 42 is positioned inside the inner cylinder portion 411 and is sandwiched between the support shaft 43 and the second inner cylinder component 4112 (particularly its bottom). The spring portion 42 is provided in a compressed state and constantly applies an upward biasing force to the support shaft 43.
[0065] The support shaft 43 is rod-shaped, with its lower portion positioned inside the inner cylinder portion 411 and its upper portion protruding outside the inner cylinder portion 411, and is configured to reciprocate along the axial direction of the inner cylinder portion 411. The support shaft 43 moves downward when pressed against the surface of the cover portion 5 and moves upward when biased by the spring portion 42. In this embodiment, the support shaft 43 is composed of a male screw and two parts connected in series by the male screw, but the support shaft 43 may be composed of a single part.
[0066] The rotating ring 44 is annular in shape and is rotatably mounted on the outer circumference of the support shaft 43. The rotating ring 44 moves up and down together with the support shaft 43 when the support shaft 43 moves up and down. The rotating ring 44 also has an outwardly projecting engaging projection 44a (see Figure 4). Multiple engaging projections 44a are provided at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the rotating ring 44.
[0067] In the support shaft mechanism 4 configured as described above, when the engaged projection 44a is positioned in the groove between each engaged tooth 4111a, the support shaft 43 is pressed against the retaining projection 4111c by the biasing force from the spring portion 42, thereby holding the support shaft 43 in a predetermined upper position (see Figures 2 and 3).
[0068] On the other hand, when the support shaft mechanism 4 is held in the upper position, if the surface of the cover portion 5 is pressed downward and a downward force is applied to the support shaft 43, the engaging projection 44a comes into contact with the guide tooth 4112a, causing the rotating ring 44 to rotate by a predetermined angle. Then, when the pressing force on the cover portion 5 is released, the support shaft mechanism 4 uses the biasing force from the spring portion 42 to move the support shaft 43 and the rotating ring 44 upward, causing the engaging projection 44a to engage with the engaging tooth 4111a. With the engaging projection 44a engaged with the engaging tooth 4111a, the support shaft 43 is held in a predetermined lower position below the upper position.
[0069] Furthermore, when the support shaft 43 is held in the lower position, the support shaft mechanism 4, when the surface of the cover portion 5 is pressed downward and a downward force is applied to the support shaft 43, causes the engaged projection 44a to contact the guide teeth 4112a, thereby rotating the rotating ring 44 by a predetermined angle. Then, when the pressing force on the cover portion 5 is released, the support shaft mechanism 4, due to the biasing force from the spring portion 42, moves the support shaft 43 and the rotating ring 44 upward, so that the engaged projection 44a is positioned in the groove between each engaged tooth 4111a. As a result, the support shaft 43 is held again in the upper position.
[0070] Therefore, the support shaft mechanism 4 is capable of alternately holding the support shaft 43 in the upper position and holding the support shaft 43 in the lower position by pressing it against the surface of the cover portion 5.
[0071] The cover portion 5 has a function as a cover (cover) to make it difficult to see inside the drain recess 105. As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5, the cover portion 5 has a cover body portion 51 made of resin or the like, and an annular packing portion 52 made of an elastically deformable material (for example, rubber or resin) and attached to the cover body portion 51.
[0072] The cover body portion 51 includes a surface component portion 511 that constitutes the surface of the cover portion 5, a packing retaining portion 512 that protrudes downward from the lower surface (back surface) of the surface component portion 511, and a restricting portion 513 that protrudes from the side surface of the packing retaining portion 512.
[0073] The surface component 511 is a rectangular plate shape that is slightly smaller than the opening 105a of the drain recess 105, and has a flat surface located on the water storage space side of the washbasin 100. The surface of the surface component 511 forms the surface of the cover portion 5. Furthermore, the surface of the surface component 511 (the surface of the cover portion 5) is always maintained in an inclined state with respect to the horizontal direction (regardless of the vertical position of the support shaft 43).
[0074] The packing retaining portion 512 has a fitting groove 512a that is continuous in the circumferential direction, and the packing portion 52 is held in place by being fitted into this fitting groove 512a. In this embodiment, when the support shaft 43 moves upward and is positioned in the upper position, the packing portion 52 is separated from the drain port member 2, and as a result the drain port 101 is in an open state. On the other hand, when the support shaft 43 moves downward and is positioned in the lower position, the entire circumference of the packing portion 52 is in contact with the drain port member 2, and as a result the drain port 101 is in a closed state (see Figure 7). Therefore, in this embodiment, the drain port 101 is alternately kept open and closed by pressing on the surface of the cover portion 5. In other words, in this embodiment, the support shaft mechanism 4 is a so-called direct push mechanism, and the open and closed state of the drain port 101 can be alternately switched each time the surface of the cover portion 5 is pressed.
[0075] Furthermore, when the drain port 101 is open (when the support shaft 43 is held in the upper position), the cover portion 5 is positioned in the opening 105a with its surface flush with the connecting plane portion 104a. The term "flush" means that when the direction perpendicular to the connecting plane portion 104a is considered the height direction, the surfaces of the connecting plane portion 104a and the cover portion 5 are at the same height. However, "flush" does not mean strictly flush, but also includes cases where there is a very slight difference in height (for example, 3 mm or less).
[0076] On the other hand, when the drain port 101 is closed (when the support shaft 43 is held in the lower position), the cover portion 5 is positioned within the drain recess 105 with its surface recessed from the connecting plane portion 104a (see Figures 6 and 7).
[0077] In addition, the surface of the cover portion 5 is positioned so as not to reach the bottom wall portion 102 when it is flush with the connecting plane portion 104a. In other words, when the surface of the cover portion 5 and the connecting plane portion 104a are flush, the cover portion 5 is configured not to be present on the bottom wall portion 102.
[0078] Furthermore, the surface of the cover portion 5 is configured to be located above the boundary portion 102a (see Figures 1 and 2) between the bottom wall portion 102 and the connecting wall portion 104a when the surface is flush with the connecting plane portion 104a. In this embodiment, the boundary portion 102a is the lowest part of the bottom wall portion 102. Therefore, in this embodiment, the surface of the cover portion 5 is located above the lowest part of the bottom wall portion 102 when the surface is flush with the connecting plane portion 104a.
[0079] In addition, a water-permeable gap 9 is formed between the outer edge of the cover portion 5 (surface component portion 511) and the drain recess 105 (hanging portion 106) to allow drainage to easily flow into the drain recess 105. The water-permeable gap 9 is configured such that the size of the gap X1 corresponding to the lower outer edge of the cover portion 5 is larger than the size of the gap X2 corresponding to the upper outer edge of the cover portion 5. Since the water-permeable gap 9 mainly functions as a drainage channel, it is sufficient that X1 > X2 is filled when the drain port 101 is open (when drainage from the washbasin 100 is possible).
[0080] The restricting portion 513 is provided on the back side of the cover portion 5 (surface component portion 511) and is a portion that moves up and down in close proximity to the drain recess 105 (hanging portion 106) when the support shaft 43 moves up and down. In this embodiment, the restricting portion 513 is provided as a depth-direction restricting portion 513a and a width-direction restricting portion 513b.
[0081] The rearward restricting portion 513a is composed of a pair of protrusions that project from the rear side (the side wall portion 103 side) of the packing holding portion 512 when viewed from the center side of the water storage space of the washbasin 100. The rearward restricting portion 513a contacts the drain recess 105 (hanging portion 106) when the cover portion 5 is displaced toward the side wall portion 103 due to pressure on the surface of the cover portion 5, thereby restricting further displacement of the cover portion 5.
[0082] On the other hand, the width-direction restricting portion 513b is composed of a pair of protrusions that extend from both sides of the packing holding portion 512 in the width direction. The width-direction restricting portion 513b restricts further displacement of the cover portion 5 by contacting the drain recess 105 (hanging portion 106) when the cover portion 5 is displaced in the width direction due to an object or the like getting caught on the cover portion 5. The "width direction" can be said to be the direction perpendicular to the inclination direction of the surface of the cover portion 5.
[0083] As described in detail above, according to this embodiment, the cover portion 5 has a flat surface, and this surface is always maintained in an inclined state with respect to the horizontal direction. Therefore, the adhesion of dirt and limescale to the surface of the cover portion 5 can be effectively suppressed.
[0084] Furthermore, the surface of the cover portion 5 is configured to be located above the boundary portion 102a between the bottom wall portion 102 and the connecting wall portion 104 when the cover portion 5 is flush with the connecting plane portion 104a (in this embodiment, when the drain port 101 is open). In other words, when the surface of the cover portion 5 is flush with the connecting plane portion 104a, the lower end of the surface of the cover portion 5 is located above the boundary portion 102a. As a result, water that flows down the bottom wall portion 102 towards the drain recess 105 is less likely to come into contact with the lower end of the surface of the cover portion 5, thereby more reliably preventing the accumulation of dirt and limescale on the lower end of the surface.
[0085] In addition, the portion of the surface of the connecting wall portion 104 located between the portions continuous with the bottom wall portion 102 and the side wall portion 103 is a connecting plane portion 104a that is inclined horizontally. Therefore, compared to the case where the surface is curved rather than flat, water flows more easily down the surface of the connecting wall portion 104. This helps to suppress the adhesion of dirt and limescale to the surface of the connecting wall portion 104.
[0086] Therefore, according to this embodiment, the above-mentioned effects work synergistically to very effectively suppress the adhesion of dirt and limescale. Furthermore, because the adhesion of dirt and limescale is suppressed very effectively, even if dirt or limescale does adhere, it becomes easier to remove, thereby improving ease of cleaning.
[0087] Furthermore, the surface of the cover portion 5 is positioned so as not to reach the bottom wall portion 102, while being flush with the connecting plane portion 104a. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the cover portion 5 from getting in the way when using the bottom wall portion 102 (for example, when placing objects on the bottom wall portion 102). This makes it possible to use the bottom wall portion 102 more widely, thereby improving convenience.
[0088] In addition, the surface of the cover portion 5 and the connecting plane portion 104a are both flat surfaces. Therefore, when the surface of the cover portion 5 is flush with the connecting plane portion 104a, a good appearance quality can be obtained. Furthermore, because the surface of the cover portion 5 and the connecting plane portion 104a are both flat surfaces, cleaning them becomes easier.
[0089] In addition, the surface of the bottom wall portion 102 has a shape that gradually slopes downward toward the connecting wall portion 104. Therefore, water that flows down the surface of the bottom wall portion 102 toward the connecting wall portion 104 can easily flow into the drain recess 105. This makes it possible to obtain good drainage performance.
[0090] Furthermore, even if some foreign matter (for example, fine foreign matter contained in water, such as sand) that does not flow into the drain recess 105 accumulates in the washbasin 100, this foreign matter tends to adhere to the boundary portion 102a between the bottom wall portion 102 and the connecting wall portion 104 and its vicinity. Therefore, even if such foreign matter adheres, during cleaning, it is sufficient to focus cleaning on this boundary portion 102a and its vicinity. This makes cleaning easier and further improves convenience.
[0091] Furthermore, the water passage gap 9 is configured such that the size of the gap X1 corresponding to the lower part of the outer edge of the cover portion 5 is larger than the size of the gap X2 corresponding to the other parts of the outer edge. As a result, water that flows along the surface of the bottom wall portion 102 towards the connecting wall portion 104 flows more easily into the drain recess 105. This makes it possible to obtain even better drainage performance.
[0092] On the other hand, since the size of the gaps in the water passage gap 9 that correspond to areas other than the lower outer edge of the cover portion 5 can be made relatively small, a better appearance quality can be obtained compared to the case where the size of the gaps is large around the entire circumference of the water passage gap 9.
[0093] In addition, by moving the support shaft 43 up and down, the cover portion 5 can switch the open and closed state of the drain port 101. Therefore, it is possible to easily switch between a state in which water can be filled into the washbasin 100 and a state in which it cannot, further enhancing convenience.
[0094] In addition, when the support shaft 43 moves up and down, the restricting portion 513 moves up and down while being close to the drain recess 105. Therefore, the movement of the cover portion 5 is guided by the restricting portion 513 and the drain recess 105, allowing the cover portion 5 to move up and down smoothly.
[0095] Furthermore, if the cover portion 5 is displaced toward the side wall portion 103 due to, for example, the surface of the cover portion 5 being pressed, the inward direction restricting portion 513a will come into contact with the drain recess 105, thereby restricting further displacement of the cover portion 5. On the other hand, if the cover portion 5 is displaced in the width direction due to, for example, an object getting caught on the cover portion 5, the width direction restricting portion 513b will come into contact with the drain recess 105, thereby restricting further displacement of the cover portion 5. As a result, excessive loads on the cover portion 5 and the support shaft 43 can be prevented more reliably, and the support shaft mechanism 4 can be protected more effectively.
[0096] Furthermore, the open / closed state of the drain port 101 can be easily switched by a simple method of pressing the surface of the cover portion 5. In addition, since there is no need to provide an operating part (for example, an operating button) for switching the open / closed state of the drain port 101 separately from the cover portion 5, the drain port device 1 can be simplified and miniaturized. When the surface of the cover portion 5 is pressed, the cover portion 5 may be displaced toward the side wall portion 103, but by providing the restricting portion 513 (especially the inward restricting portion 513a) as described above, it is possible to more reliably prevent excessive load from being applied to the cover portion 5 and other parts due to the displacement.
[0097] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the tank body is a washbasin 100, the tank body is often used with the drain 101 open. In this embodiment, taking this into consideration, the surface of the cover portion 5 is configured to be flush with the connecting plane portion 104a when the drain 101 is in the open position. Therefore, it becomes possible to more reliably obtain good appearance quality.
[0098] 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.
[0099] (a) In the above embodiment, the surface of the cover portion 5 and the surface of the connecting plan view 104a are flush when the drain port 101 is in the open state. Alternatively, the surface of the cover portion 5 and the surface of the connecting plan view 104a may be flush when the drain port 101 is in the closed state. This configuration is particularly suitable for tanks that are often used with the drain port 101 in the closed state. In this configuration, as shown in Figure 8, when the drain port 101 is in the open state, the surface of the cover portion 5 will protrude from the surface of the connecting plan view 104a.
[0100] (b) In the above embodiment, the cover portion 5 is configured to move up and down when switching the open and closed state of the drain port 101. In other words, the cover portion 5 has the function of switching the open and closed state of the drain port 101.
[0101] In contrast, when switching the open / closed state of the drain port 101, the cover portion 5 may be configured not to move up and down (remain fixed in a certain position). In other words, a separate member having a function for switching the open / closed state of the drain port 101 may be provided in addition to the cover portion 5. Accordingly, for example, a separate member having a function for switching the open / closed state of the drain port 101 (e.g., a stopper cover) may be attached to the upper end of the support shaft 43, while the cover portion 5 may be supported in an immovable state by a support member separate from the support shaft 43 (e.g., a member protruding from the hanging portion 106 or the bottom of the recess 107 and provided in the drain recess 105).
[0102] (c) In the above embodiment, the drain port device 1 has a function to switch the open / closed state of the drain port 101, but it may not have such a function. In other words, it may be configured to keep the drain port 101 always open. In this case, the cover portion 5 may always be positioned in a fixed position without moving.
[0103] (d) In the above embodiment, the drain recess 105 is rectangular in shape, but the shape of the drain recess 105 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the drain recess 105 may be polygonal in plan view (e.g., hexagonal), circular, oval, etc. Also, the shape of the cover portion 5 (surface component portion 511) may be changed as appropriate to match the shape of the drain recess 105.
[0104] (e) In the above embodiment, the drain recess 105 (hanging portion 106) is configured to extend vertically downward, but it may also extend diagonally downward with respect to the vertical direction.
[0105] (f) A cover contact portion may be provided that is located within the drain recess 105 and can contact the back side of the cover portion 5 (surface component 511) when the cover portion 5 is in a downward position. For example, the cover contact portion may be provided that can contact the back sides of both ends in the width direction of the surface component 511.
[0106] Furthermore, the cover contact portion may be capable of contacting the back side of the cover portion 5 even when no particular pressing force is applied to the surface of the cover portion 5, or it may be capable of contacting the back side of the cover portion 5 only when a pressing force is applied to the surface of the cover portion 5, for example, by placing an object on it. In addition, the cover contact portion may be formed by the tank body itself, or it may be formed by a member provided separately from the tank body and attached directly or indirectly to the tank body.
[0107] (g) Recesses and protrusions may be provided on a part of the surface of the cover portion 5 for displaying predetermined information (e.g., manufacturer name) or for clearly indicating the operating position. For example, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, a recess 5d may be provided in the center of the cover portion 5 (surface component 511), and the operating position of the cover portion 5 when switching the open / closed state of the drain port 101 may be clearly indicated by the recess 5d. In addition to the effect of clearly indicating the operating position, providing such a recess 5d also has the effect of making it easier to press the cover portion 5 along the vertical direction (the direction of movement of the support shaft 43) without being particularly conscious of it, that is, it has the effect of improving operability.
[0108] (h) In the above embodiment, a washbasin 100 is given as the tank body, but the tank body to which the technical concept of the present invention can be applied is not limited to a washbasin 100. Therefore, the technical concept of the present invention may be applied to tank bodies other than washbasins, such as kitchen sinks and bathtubs.
[0109] (i) In the above embodiment, the support shaft mechanism 4 switches the open / closed state of the drain port 101 by moving the support shaft 43 up and down by pressing the surface of the cover portion 5 (so-called direct push). Alternatively, the support shaft mechanism may be one in which the open / closed state of the drain port is switched by moving the support shaft up and down by operating a predetermined operating part (for example, an operating button). In this case, the driving force generated by operating the operating part may be transmitted to the support shaft via a transmission member such as a wire, thereby causing the support shaft to move up and down. Alternatively, the support shaft mechanism may be one in which the support shaft is electrically powered.
[0110] Furthermore, although a rod-shaped support shaft 43 is given as the "support part" in the above embodiment, a support part other than a rod shape may also be used.
[0111] 1...Drainage device, 4...Support shaft mechanism (support mechanism), 5...Cover part, 9...Water passage gap, 43...Support shaft (support part), 100...Washbasin (tank body), 101...Drainage port, 102...Bottom wall part, 102a...Boundary part, 103...Side wall part, 104...Connecting wall part, 104a...Connecting plane part, 105...Drainage recess, 105a...Opening, 513...Restricting part, 513a...Restricting part in the back direction, 513b...Restricting part in the width direction.
Claims
1. A drain outlet device provided in correspondence with a drain outlet of a tank body having a bottom wall, side walls, and connecting walls located between the bottom wall and side walls and connecting them, wherein the surface of the bottom wall has a shape that gradually slopes downward toward the connecting wall, the connecting wall has a drain recess formed therein which is recessed downward and has an opening that opens on the surface of the connecting wall, the drain outlet is provided on the bottom side of the drain recess, the portion of the surface of the connecting wall that is located between the portions continuous with the bottom wall and the side walls has a flat connecting plane portion that is inclined with respect to the horizontal, and a cover portion that has a flat surface and whose surface is always maintained inclined with respect to the horizontal, the cover portion is configured to be positioned in the opening with its surface flush with the connecting plane portion, and the surface of the cover portion is provided at a position that does not reach the bottom wall portion when it is flush with the connecting plane portion, and is configured to be located above the boundary portion between the bottom wall and the connecting wall portion.
2. The drainage device according to claim 1, characterized in that an annular water passage gap is provided between the outer edge of the cover portion and the drainage recess, and the water passage gap is configured such that the size of the gap corresponding to the lower part of the outer edge of the cover portion is larger than the size of the gap corresponding to other parts of the outer edge.
3. The drain port device according to claim 1, comprising a support portion that can move up and down, and a support mechanism disposed within the drain recess, wherein the cover portion is attached to the support portion and is configured to switch the open and closed state of the drain port in accordance with the up and down movement of the support portion.
4. The drain port device according to claim 3, further comprising a restricting portion provided on the back side of the cover portion and capable of moving up and down in close proximity to the drain recess when the support portion moves up and down, wherein the restricting portion is configured to restrict further displacement of the cover portion by contacting the drain recess when the cover portion is displaced in a direction intersecting the direction of up and down movement.
5. The drain outlet device according to claim 4, characterized in that the restricting portion has a rearward restricting portion that restricts further displacement of the cover portion by contacting the drain recess when the cover portion is displaced toward the side wall portion, and a widthwise restricting portion that restricts further displacement of the cover portion by contacting the drain recess when the cover portion is displaced in the width direction.
6. The drain port device according to claim 3, characterized in that the support mechanism is configured to alternately hold the support at a predetermined upper position to maintain the drain port in an open state, and hold the support at a predetermined lower position to maintain the drain port in a closed state, by pressing the support against the surface of the cover portion.
7. The drain port device according to claim 3, characterized in that the cover portion is configured such that its surface is flush with the connecting plane portion when the drain port is in the open position.
8. The drain port device according to claim 3, characterized in that the cover portion is configured such that its surface is flush with the connecting plane portion when the drain port is in a closed state.