U.S. patent application number 15/754777 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-08 for automatic faucet.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lixil Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Lixil Corporation. Invention is credited to Yousuke Narumi, Shinya Sakata, Shogo Sato, Kazuyuki Shimizu.
Application Number | 20180320345 15/754777 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58187712 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180320345 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Narumi; Yousuke ; et
al. |
November 8, 2018 |
AUTOMATIC FAUCET
Abstract
An automatic faucet according to the present invention includes
a holding portion (6) which holds a water discharge head (3) by
fitting a rear end side (3b) of the water discharge head (3) to the
support body (1) to be detachable and be capable of being drawn out
therefrom and a guide portion (8) which protrudes forward in a
drawing out direction (T1) of the water discharge head (3) and
engages when the drawn-out water discharge head (3) is returned to
a distal end side of the support body (1) to guide the water
discharge head (3) in a direction along the drawing out direction
(T1).
Inventors: |
Narumi; Yousuke; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Sato; Shogo; (Tokyo, JP) ; Sakata;
Shinya; (Tokyo, JP) ; Shimizu; Kazuyuki;
(Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lixil Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Lixil Corporation
Tokyo
JP
Lixil Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
58187712 |
Appl. No.: |
15/754777 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
August 31, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2016/075503 |
371 Date: |
February 23, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03C 1/042 20130101;
E03C 1/057 20130101; E03C 2001/0415 20130101; E03C 2001/0417
20130101 |
International
Class: |
E03C 1/05 20060101
E03C001/05; E03C 1/042 20060101 E03C001/042 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 31, 2015 |
JP |
2015-171227 |
Claims
1. An automatic faucet comprising: a support body; a water
discharge head provided by connecting a hose and supported at a
distal end side of the support body to be detachable and be capable
of being drawn out; a sensor portion provided on the distal end
side of the support body and provided above or in front of the
water discharge head, to overlap the water discharge head in a
vertical direction or a forward and backward direction, a holding
portion which holds the water discharge head by fitting a proximal
end side of the water discharge head to the support body to be
detachable and be capable of being drawn out therefrom; and a guide
portion which protrudes forward in a drawing out direction of the
water discharge head, engages with the water discharge head when
the water discharge head drawn out is returned to the distal end
side of the support body, and guides the water discharge head along
the drawing out direction.
2. The automatic faucet according to claim 1, wherein the guide
portion is provided to be continuous with the sensor portion and
the holding portion.
3. The automatic faucet according to claim 1, further comprising an
inclined portion provided on a distal end side of the drawing out
direction of the guide portion, wherein the distal end side of the
guide portion is formed in a pointed shape.
4. The automatic faucet according to claim 2, further comprising an
inclined portion provided on a distal end side of the drawing out
direction of the guide portion, wherein the distal end side of the
guide portion is formed in a pointed shape.
5. The automatic faucet according to claim 1, wherein: a guide
recess portion which engages with the guide portion is provided in
the water discharge head.
6. The automatic faucet according to claim 2, wherein: a contact
point between the guide portion and the sensor portion which
corresponds to the distal end of the guide portion is disposed at a
position on the front side in the drawing out direction behind a
distal end of the holding portion.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic faucet.
Priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-171227,
filed on Aug. 31, 2015, the content of which is incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, automatic faucets (automatic faucet devices)
have been used for kitchen counters, toilets, sink dressers in
washrooms, or the like. Automatic faucets are configured to
automatically discharge water when a detection sensor (sensor
portion) such as infrared sensors, photoelectric sensors, radio
wave sensors, or the like detect an object such as a hand and
automatically stop water when the object is removed from the
detection region of the detection sensor.
[0003] The automatic faucets described above are provided with a
water discharge portion including, for example, a support body
whose proximal end is fixed to a top plate or the like of a kitchen
counter or a sink dresser and protruding from the top plate, and a
head portion having a water discharge port for discharging water,
disposed on a distal end side of the support body, and provided to
be detachable and able to be drawn out from the support body,
wherein a detection sensor is provided on the support body of the
water discharge portion in some cases (for example, refer to Patent
Literature 1). According to the above-described configuration, when
an object to be detected such as a hand is disposed on the water
discharge port side, a detection sensor provided on the support
body detects the object to be detected and water is automatically
discharged from the water discharge portion.
[0004] An automatic faucet disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is
arranged such that a detection sensor portion overlaps a rear end
portion in a drawing out direction of a water discharge head in a
state of being held by the support body in a plan view. In
addition, the automatic faucet disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is
configured such that, in a state in which the drawn-out head
portion is returned to an original position and is held by the
support body, the support body and the water discharge head are
integrated to have a good appearance.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[Patent Literature 1]
[0005] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication
No. 2015-105517
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0006] However, in the above-described conventional automatic
faucets, a sensor portion (detection sensor) is disposed above or
in front (on a user side) of a water discharge head to constitute
the water discharge portion. In this configuration, the water
discharge head is returned to a support body, it is conceivable
that a user's hand may cover the sensor portion, a portion to which
the water discharge head is attached (that is, a distal end of the
support body) may be difficult to see, and it may be difficult for
the water discharge head to be returned to the support body.
[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above
circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to
provide an automatic faucet capable of enhancing operability when a
water discharge head is attached to and detached from a support
body, particularly capable of significantly enhancing operability
when the water discharge head is returned to the support body and
attached to the support body.
Solution to Problem
[0008] An automatic faucet according to the present invention
includes a support body fixed at a rear end side to protrude
therefrom, a water discharge head provided by connecting a hose and
supported by a distal end side of the support body to be detachable
and be capable of being drawn out, and a sensor portion provided on
a distal end side of the support body above or in front of the
water discharge head to overlap the water discharge head in a
vertical direction or a forward and backward direction. The
automatic faucet further includes a holding portion which holds the
water discharge head by fitting a rear end side of the water
discharge head to the support body to be detachable and be capable
of being drawn out, and a guide portion which protrudes forward in
a drawing out direction of the water discharge head, engages with
the water discharge head when the drawn-out water discharge head is
returned to the distal end side of the support body, and guides the
water discharge head in a direction along the drawing out
direction.
[0009] Here, a meaning of "above or in front of" in the present
invention includes obliquely above and in front thereof.
[0010] In addition, in the automatic faucet of the present
invention, it is preferable that the guide portion is provided to
be continuous with the sensor portion and the holding portion.
[0011] Further, in the automatic faucet of the present invention,
it is more preferable to include an inclined portion provided on a
distal end side in the drawing out direction of the guide portion.
The distal end side is more preferable to be formed in a pointed
shape.
Advantageous Effects of the Invention
[0012] In the automatic faucet according to the present invention,
it is possible to enhance operability when attaching and detaching
the water discharge head of the water discharge portion to and from
the support body, and particularly to significantly enhance
operability when the water discharge head is returned to the
support body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a sink
dresser.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a water discharge
portion of an automatic faucet according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the water
discharge portion of the automatic faucet according to one
embodiment of the present invention and is a view illustrating a
state in which a water discharge head is drawn out from a support
body.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in a direction of the line
of the arrow X1-X1 illustrated in FIG. 3, and is a cross-sectional
view illustrating the water discharge portion of the automatic
faucet according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a sensor portion
and the support body of the water discharge portion of the
automatic faucet according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in a direction of the line
of the arrow X2-X2 in FIG. 3, and is a view illustrating a guide
portion of the automatic faucet according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, an automatic
faucet according to one embodiment of the present invention will be
described.
[0020] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2 to 4, an automatic
faucet A of the present embodiment is provided, for example, in a
sink dresser B, and includes a support body 1 and a water discharge
port 2. The automatic faucet A includes a water discharge portion 4
constituted with a water discharge head 3 disposed on a distal end
side of the support body 1 and detachably attached to and provided
to be capable of being drawn out from the support body 1.
[0021] In the present embodiment, the support table 1 is fixed to a
cabinet of the sink dresser B, an upright wall surface of a
washbowl, or the like to protrude therefrom. The water discharge
portion 4 (automatic faucet A) is installed to protrude obliquely
downward.
[0022] The water discharge portion 4 of the present embodiment is
provided on the distal end side of the support body 1. The water
discharge portion 4 is configured to integrally include a sensor
portion 5 having a detection sensor 5a and the support body 1. The
water discharge portion 4 automatically discharges water when an
object such as a hand is detected by the detection sensor 5a
(sensor portion 5) and automatically stops water when the object is
removed from a detection range of the detection sensor 5a.
[0023] The automatic faucet A is configured so that it can also be
used as a manual faucet by manipulating a manual operation portion
when it is desired to continue to discharge water for a long
periods of time, for example, such as when drawing water is
performed.
[0024] In the present embodiment, the sensor portion 5 is provided
above (or in front of) the water discharge head 3 in a state of
being held by the support body 1 and is provided to overlap the
water discharge head 3 in a vertical direction (or in a forward and
backward direction). The sensor portion 5 and the water discharge
head 3 are each formed to have a substantially semicircular cross
section. The sensor portion 5 and the water discharge head 3 are
configured such that a distal end portion of the water discharge
portion 4 in which the sensor portion 5 and the water discharge
head 3 are combined has a substantially columnar shape in a state
in which the water discharge head 3 is held such that the sensor
portion 5 and the water discharge head 3 overlap each other and a
planar lower surface 5b of the sensor portion 5 and a planar upper
surface 3a of the water discharge head 3 make planar contact and
face each other.
[0025] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, a cylindrical holding
portion 6 protruding to a side in front in a drawing out direction
T1 of the water discharge head 3 is provided on a front surface la
of the support body 1 which is laterally in contact with a rear end
surface 3b of the water discharge head 3 and facing the rear end
surface 3b. When a hose (flexible pipe) 7 is inserted into the
holding portion 6 and freely moves forward and backward and a
distal end of the hose 7 is connected to the water discharge head
3, the water discharge head 3 is capable of discharging water and
being drawn out.
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 6, a recessed fitting hole 3c is
formed in the rear end surface 3b of the water discharge head 3.
When the water discharge head 3 drawn out from the support body 1
returns to the support body 1, by fitting the holding portion 6
into the fitting hole 3c, the water discharge head 3 is configured
to be detachably attached to and held by the support body 1.
[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 3, a guide portion 8 that is formed
in a plate shape and extends forward in the drawing out direction
T1 from the front surface la of the support body 1 is provided in
the automatic faucet A of the present embodiment. Also, as
illustrated in FIG. 6, a guide recess portion 9 which is recessed
forward in the drawing out direction T1 from the rear end surface
is provided in the water discharge head 3.
[0028] Further, in the present embodiment, the guide portion 8 is
provided between the sensor portion 5 and the holding portion 6. As
illustrated in FIG. 5, a lower end of the guide portion 8 is
connected to an upper portion of the holding portion 6. The guide
portion 8 protrudes upward from the holding portion 6. An upper end
of the guide portion 8 is connected to a planar lower surface 5b of
the sensor portion 5. That is, the guide portion 8 is integrally
continuous with the sensor portion 5 and the holding portion 6.
[0029] Also, a substantially triangular notch is provided on a
distal end side in an extending direction of the guide portion 8
along the drawing out direction T1. By providing this notch, an
inclined portion 8a is provided on the distal end side in the
extending direction of the guide portion 8. A lower end of the
inclined portion 8a approaches an upper end side from a rear end
side of the inclined portion 8a toward the distal end thereof. In
other words, the guide portion 8 is formed with a pointed portion
8b on the distal end side. A height dimension of the pointed
portion 8b gradually decreases from a rear end side toward a distal
end. A contact point between the guide portion 8 and the lower
surface 5b of the sensor portion 5 which corresponds to the distal
end of the pointed portion 8b of the guide portion 8 is disposed at
a position on the front side in the drawing out direction T1 behind
a distal end of the holding portion 6.
[0030] In the automatic faucet A of the present embodiment having
the above-described configuration, the guide portion 8 is provided
on the distal end side of the support body 1 and the guide recess
portion 9 is provided in the water discharge head 3. According to
these configurations, when the water discharge head 3 is returned
from a drawn-out state to an original state, since the holding
portion 6 is fitted in the fitting hole 3c of the water discharge
head 3 and a position or orientation of the water discharge head 3
is adjusted by manipulation of rotating the water discharge head 3
around an axis thereof, or the like, it is possible to easily
engage the guide portion 8 with the guide recess portion 9.
[0031] As described above, the guide recess portion 9 engages with
the guide portion 8, and thereby the water discharge head 3 is
guided in the forward and backward direction along the drawing out
direction T1. That is, the water discharge head 3 is guided such
that an axial direction of the water discharge head 3 is aligned
with the drawing out direction T1. Therefore, the water discharge
head 3 can be accommodated in its original position while suitably
fitting to the holding portion 6.
[0032] In addition, since the pointed portion 8b (inclined portion
8a) is formed on a distal end side of the guide portion 8, even
when the water discharge head 3 is somewhat inclined with respect
to the guide portion 8, a position or orientation of the water
discharge head 3 is adjusted by a manipulation of rotating the
water discharge head 3 around the axis, or the like, and thereby it
is possible to easily engage the pointed portion 8b of the guide
portion 8 with the guide recess portion 9. When the water discharge
head 3 is fitted into the holding portion 6 in a state in which the
pointed portion 8b is engaged with the guide recess portion 9,
since the position or orientation of the water discharge head 3 is
guided by the guide portion 8, the water discharge head 3 is
automatically guided to a predetermined installation state (that
is, holding state). Therefore, operability in an accommodating
operation of the water discharge head 3 can be further
enhanced.
[0033] According to the automatic faucet A of the present
embodiment, even when the sensor portion 5 is disposed to overlap
(above or in front of) the water discharge head 3 and the holding
portion 6 becomes difficult to see, it is possible to easily
perform the operation of accommodating the water discharge head 3
due to the guide portion 8 and the guide recess portion 9 being
provided. That is, according to the automatic faucet A of the
present embodiment, it is possible to enhance operability when
attaching and detaching the water discharge head 3 to and from the
support body 1, particularly to significantly enhance operability
when the water discharge head 3 is returned to the support body
1.
[0034] In addition, in the automatic faucet A of the present
embodiment, in addition to the fitting hole 3c of the water
discharge head 3 being fitted in the holding portion 6, since the
guide recess portion 9 of the water discharge head 3 engages with
the guide portion 8 to be accommodated and held, rattling of the
water discharge head 3 in a state of being held by the support body
1 cannot easily occur.
[0035] Further, in the automatic faucet A of the present
embodiment, since the guide portion 8 is continuous with the sensor
portion 5 and the holding portion 6, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when
the water discharge head 3 is drawn out from the support body 1, it
is possible to support the sensor portion 5 which is cantilevered
while protruding from the support body 1 by the guide portion 8 and
the holding portion 6. Thereby, a reinforcing effect of the sensor
portion 5 due to the guide portion 8 and the holding portion 6 can
be obtained. In particular, when the sensor portion 5 and the
support body 1 are formed of resin, the above-described reinforcing
effect is effective.
[0036] While one embodiment of the automatic faucet according to
the present invention has been described above, the present
invention is not limited to the above-described one embodiment, and
can be modified appropriately without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
[0037] For example, in the present embodiment, although the shape
of the automatic faucet A is illustrated and described as being a
linear shape, the shape of the automatic faucet A may be a shape
different from a linear shape such as a gooseneck shape or the
like. Also in this case, regarding the side fixed to a counter, a
wall, or the like as the rear end side and regarding the side with
a water discharge port as the distal end side, the above-described
details may be employed.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0038] 1: Support body
[0039] 1a: Front surface
[0040] 2: Water discharge port
[0041] 3: Water discharge head
[0042] 3a: Upper surface
[0043] 3b: Rear end surface
[0044] 3c: Fitting hole
[0045] 4: Water discharge portion
[0046] 5: Sensor portion
[0047] 5a: Detection sensor
[0048] 5b: Lower surface
[0049] 6: Holding portion
[0050] 7: Hose
[0051] 8: Guide portion
[0052] 8a: Inclined portion
[0053] 8b: Pointed portion
[0054] 9: Guide recess portion
[0055] A: Automatic faucet
[0056] B: Sink dresser
[0057] T1: Drawing out direction
* * * * *