JP3378438B2 - Drainage hose and hose direction changing structure - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drainage hose capable of changing the drainage direction and a structure for changing the direction of the hose.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A drainage hose is attached to a lower portion (drainage valve) of a domestic washing machine in advance in a predetermined direction in order to allow drainage to flow to a drainage port such as a drainage port during manufacturing and shipping. This drain hose is required to be inexpensive and to have no water leakage from the mounting portion. Therefore, the drain hose is tightly attached to the drain valve. On the other hand, depending on the place where the domestic washing machine is placed, the position of the drain port may be different from the left and right with respect to the installation site of the washing machine. For example, in an apartment house such as a condominium, houses with the same floor plan are adjacent to each other and are formed symmetrically. Therefore, in the adjacent houses, the positions of the drain ports with respect to the installation site of the washing machine are different from each other. Therefore, if you install a washing machine at the installation location of the adjacent house,
Even if the drain hose extends toward the drain port in one house, the drain hose extends in the opposite direction to the drain port in the other adjacent house.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-20040 discloses a L-shaped mouthpiece part which is watertightly fixed to a lower mouthpiece of a drain valve of a washing and dehydrating machine and has a thick inside, and is formed by a blow molding method. And a hollow bellows drainage hose having a drainage hose connected to the mouthpiece and a straight mouthpiece fixed to the other end of the drainage hose. However, in this bellows drainage hose, since the L-shaped mouthpiece is fixed to the lower mouthpiece of the drainage valve, in order to change the direction of the bellows hose with respect to the drainage valve, the washing machine is turned over and the drainage valve It is necessary to remove the L-shaped mouthpiece from the lower mouthpiece, change the direction of the L-shaped mouthpiece and attach it again to the lower mouthpiece. Therefore, the work of changing the direction of the bellows hose is complicated, and the installation work efficiency is reduced. Actual Kaihei 3-11128
No. 4 discloses a blow-molded drain hose having a bellows shape in a straight line direction, and the drain hose has a substantially L-shaped connecting portion.
L shaped plastic molded parts (supporters)
It has been proposed to form and secure an elbow shape of shape. In addition, the supporter formed symmetrically via the hinge portion has an L-shaped curved concave portion for fitting and fixing the drain hose, and an end portion of the hose is airtightly attached to the connecting portion. Of the metal band, a part of the hose provided on the end opposite to the metal band, into which an elastic resin is inserted to prevent damage to the hose due to vibrations, and a screwing part. There is. In this drainage hose, once fixed to the drainage valve, the direction can be changed without removing the drainage hose, and by uniformly tightening with the metal band, water leakage of the seal portion can be prevented with high reliability. However, the drain hose is fixed by the curved recess of the supporter, and the rotation of the drain hose is restricted by the insertion of the elastic resin. Therefore, when changing the direction of the hose, it is necessary to loosen the screw and remove the supporter from the drain hose, then change the direction of the supporter and tighten the screw again. Therefore, even with this drainage hose, the operation of changing the drainage direction is complicated.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a drainage hose and a hose direction changing structure in which the orientation of the hose can be changed by a simple operation without removing the drainage hose from the mounting portion. is there. Another object of the present invention is to change the direction of the hose by a simple operation of turning.
It is to provide a drainage hose and a hose redirecting structure that can be changed over 0 °.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of intensive studies for achieving the above-mentioned object, the present inventors have found that the bellows-shaped hose is almost L-shaped.
When the bellows hose is accommodated with play in the V-shaped holder with one end fixed, and the holder is rotated around this fixed part, the holder functions as a direction changing member and the bellows-shaped hose The present invention was completed by finding that the direction of the hose can be changed while the hose is rotating at the other end of the bellows-shaped hose along with the expansion and contraction. That is, the drain hose of the present invention, the annular together and the hose body, and can accommodate the bellows portion substantially L-shape having a bellows portion and the annular sliding portion formed on both sides of the bellows portion And a holder having a sliding portion that can slide in the circumferential direction with respect to the sliding contact portion. Then, as the holder rotates,
Note The sliding contact part of the hose body and the sliding part of the holder slide in the circumferential direction.
Moves to change the extension direction of the hose body with one end fixed
It is possible. In this drainage hose, the holder is composed of a pair of holder members that can be opened and closed in a hinge manner, and this holder member is formed in a curved concave portion that can accommodate the bellows portion of the hose body, and on both sides of the curved concave portion. and a slidable sliding portion against the annular sliding contact portion of the hose body may comprise a closure means for closing the pair of <br/> Hol da member. Further, the hose body has a connecting portion that can be connected to a drain port of the washing machine. In addition, the holder is a snake
The abdomen can be loosely fitted and accommodated.

The hose direction changing structure of the present invention is a structure for changing the extending direction of a hose body having a bellows portion and having one end fixed, and both sides of the bellows portion of the hose body. An annular sliding contact portion is formed on the portion, a sliding portion that is slidable in the circumferential direction with respect to the annular sliding contact portion is formed on the holder, and the bellows portion is substantially L-shaped in the curved concave portion of the holder. It is housed in. With the direction change structure of the hose
Is the sliding contact portion of the hose body as the holder rotates.
The sliding part of the holder slides in the circumferential direction and one end is fixed.
The extension direction of the hose body can be changed. The drain hose and diversion structure are useful for connection to a washing machine for drainage. That is, in the direction changing structure of the present invention, one end of the hose body is fixed to the drain of the washing machine. In such a drainage hose and a direction changing structure, the bellows portion which is curved in an approximately L shape and is accommodated expands and contracts in the holder as the holder rotates.
The extending direction of the hose body can be changed while the sliding contact portion of the hose body and the sliding portion of the holder slide in the circumferential direction to rotate the hose body. That is, the holder functions as a direction changing member in association with the curved bellows.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Below, referring to the attached drawings,
Examples of the present invention will be described in more detail. FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of the drainage hose of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a mounted state and a direction changing state of the drainage hose shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a schematic diagram showing the washing machine. As shown in FIG. 3, the drain hose includes an outer tub 31 and a washing / dehydrating tub 32 in the outer tub, which is a washable / dewaterable single-tub washing machine 33.
Is connected to a drain valve 34 located at the bottom of the. The drainage hose is a holder capable of accommodating a hose body 1 which is straight tube-shaped and bellows-like in its entirety, and a bellows portion of the hose body on the side of a connecting portion (mounting portion) 2 to the drainage valve 34 in a substantially L shape. And the annular sliding contact portions 3 on both side portions of the bellows portion 4 on the coupling portion 2 side of the hose body.
5 is formed. The hose body 1 is stretchable and bendable.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hose body 1 is formed at one end and can communicate with and connect to a drain valve (drain port) 34 of a washing machine. The connecting portion 2, the first annular sliding contact portion 3 formed adjacent to the connecting portion, and the first annular sliding contact portion adjacent to the annular sliding contact portion
Bellows portion 4, a second annular sliding contact portion 5 adjacent to the bellows portion, and a second annular sliding contact portion formed on the outer side of the second annular sliding contact portion.
The bellows portion 6 and the connection portion (spout) 7 formed at the end portion of the second bellows portion. As shown in FIG. 3, this connecting portion 7 can be connected to the mounting portion of the hose 8 extending outward of the washing machine in a one-touch manner. In addition,
The first and second annular sliding contact portions 3 and 5 can be configured by non-bellows ring portions. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a holder 10 that stores the first bellows portion 4 in a substantially L-shaped curved shape includes a pair of holder members 11 a and 11 b that can be hingedly closed by a hinge portion 12. It is composed of. More specifically, the holder members 11a and 11b are located at the substantially L-shaped curved concave portions 13a and 13b capable of accommodating the first bellows portion 4 of the hose body 1 and at both ends of the curved concave portion.
Sliding portions 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b slidable in the circumferential direction with respect to the annular sliding contact portions 3, 5 of the hose body 1, respectively.
It has and. The sliding portions 14a, 14b located at one end of the curved concave portions 13a, 13b are formed as a first sliding portion corresponding to the first sliding contact portion 3 of the hose body 1, and are curved concave portions. The sliding portions 15a and 15b located at the other ends of the 13a and 13b are formed as second sliding portions corresponding to the second sliding contact portion 5 of the hose body 1. Outward extending portions 16a and 16b are formed at portions of the pair of holder members 11a and 11b that face each other, and the pair of holder members 11a and 11b are provided in the extending portions 16a and 16b. In order to close, a closing means composed of locking holes 17a, 18a and claws 17b, 18b is formed.

The first bellows portion 4 of the hose body 1 is curvedly arranged in the curved concave portions 13a and 13b, and the locking hole 17 is formed.
a, 18a and claws 17b, 18b, the pair of holder members 11a, 1 utilizing the closing means constituted by the locking mechanism.
When 1b is closed, a tubular holder 10 is formed which houses the bellows portion 4 in a substantially L-shape. In this cylindrical holder 10, the first bellows portion 4 of the hose body 1 is loosely fitted in the curved accommodating portion, and the first bellows portion 4 formed by the sliding portions 14a, 14b on the inner surface of one end of the holder 10 is formed. Annular sliding part,
The second annular sliding portion formed by the sliding portions 15a and 15b on the inner surface of the other end is circumferentially formed with respect to the first and second annular sliding contact portions 3 and 5 of the hose body 1, respectively. It is slidable. The direction changing mechanism of such a drain hose is as follows.

That is, one end of the bellows-shaped hose body 1 is connected and fixed to the drain valve 34, and the first
The bellows part 4 is housed in the holder 10 in a substantially L-shape. Then, in association with the hose body 1, the holder 10 functions as a direction changing means for changing the extending direction of the hose body 1. That is, in order to change the extending direction of the hose body 1, when the bending holder 10 is rotated in the clockwise direction (right direction) with the extending direction of the drainage valve 34 as an axis, the bending holder 10 moves to the first position in the bending accommodating portion of the hose body 1. The bellows portion 4 expands and contracts in response to bending in the clockwise direction (to the right), and the second annular sliding contact portion 5 of the hose body 1 has the holder 10 with the extending direction of the hose body 1 as the central axis. The extending direction of the hose body 1 is changed while rotating in the clockwise direction (right direction) with respect to the annular sliding portion. Therefore, the extending direction of the hose body 1 can be changed by a simple operation of rotating the holder 10 without removing the hose body 1 from the drain valve 34. In particular, the direction of the hose body 1 can be changed at an angle of 360 ° by a simple operation of rotating the holder 10.

The hose body may have a bellows portion which can be expanded and contracted and bent and deformed at a desired bending portion, and this bellows portion is, as in the above-mentioned example, the whole of the hose body. It may be formed over the entire length, or may be formed on a part of the hose body. In addition, the portion corresponding to the second bellows portion may be configured by a non-bellows-shaped linear tube body or a combination of the bellows portion and the non-bellows portion. In order to shorten the length of the hose body and use the hose body effectively to change the direction,
It is preferable that the bellows part of the hose body is located at least on the side of the connection part or the mounting part to the drain port such as the drain valve.
It suffices that the connection part and mounting part for the drainage port such as the drainage valve in the hose body can be installed so as to communicate with the drainage port, even if it can be mounted in one-touch type to the mounting part for the drainage port. Good. In addition, in order to prevent water leakage at the connection part and mounting part to the drain port such as the drain valve, use a band or fastening means to fit the drain port such as the drain valve and the connecting part or mounting part of the hose body. , May be tightly connected.

The annular sliding contact portions formed on both sides of the bellows portion may be slidable in the circumferential direction with respect to the annular sliding portion of the bending holder, and the width of the annular sliding contact portion is not particularly limited. .
Further, the annular sliding contact portions may be formed on both sides of the bellows portion (displacement portion) that can be bent at least in an almost L-shape, and depending on the length of the holder, the outside of the bellows portion of the hose body can be used. You may further form a sliding contact part on the one side. The connecting portion formed at the other end of the hose body is not always necessary. The hose body having the bellows portion can be formed by a conventional method, for example, by blow molding using a flexible soft thermoplastic resin. Further, if necessary, at least the bellows portion can be formed of metal or the like depending on the application.

If the holder has an accommodating portion capable of accommodating the bellows portion in a substantially L shape, and a sliding portion slidable in the circumferential direction with respect to the annular sliding contact portion of the hose body. Of course, it is not limited to the pair of holder members that can be closed in a hinged manner as described above, and a plurality of holder members that can be connected to each other and can form a holder can be used. Further, the pair of holder members may not be opened by the closing means,
It may be openable and closable. In order to accommodate the bellows portion of the hose body in a curved shape, it is preferable that the holder is curved or bent in a substantially L shape. Since the accommodating portion of the holder deforms the bellows portion as the holder rotates, it is preferable that the accommodating portion is a curved concave portion for loosely fitting and accommodating the bellows portion in a curved shape. The angle of the housing portion of the holder is not particularly limited, and can be set according to the angle from the drain port of the washing machine to the drain port. The angle of the accommodating portion of the holder is, for example, about 30 to 150 °, preferably 60 to 12 with respect to the axis of the drainage port.
It is about 0 °, more preferably about 80 to 100 °, and about 90 ° in a washing machine or the like.

The sliding portion of the holder may be formed at a portion corresponding to the sliding contact portion of the hose body. In order to improve the slidability of the hose body with respect to the sliding contact part, it is advantageous to form the sliding part of the holder with a smooth surface, but in order to reduce the sliding area, You may have the protrusion part which can be slidably contacted. Further, a lubricant or a lubricating oil may be applied or contained in the sliding portion of the holder and the sliding contact portion of the hose body, and at least one of the sliding portion of the holder and the sliding contact portion of the hose body may have a friction coefficient. May be formed of a small resin (for example, an olefin resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene or a fluororesin). A sliding concave portion or a convex portion may be formed on the sliding portion of the holder and the sliding contact portion of the hose body in order to smoothly slide. From the viewpoint of mechanical strength and accommodating / holding properties of the bellows portion, it is advantageous that the holder has a tubular shape as a whole. However, as long as the mechanical strength can be ensured, a portion corresponding to the accommodating recess is It may be configured by a frame having a lattice shape or the like.

Such a drainage hose and a direction changing mechanism for the hose can be applied to drainage ports and outflow ports of various devices using water or an organic solvent. For example, it can be applied to a sink in a kitchen, a sink, a drain such as a bathtub, a drain of a washing machine or a dehydrator, a drain of a water treatment tank, an outlet of a reaction device, and the like.
In a preferred embodiment, it is preferably applied to a washing machine, particularly a single-tub type washing machine that can be washed and dehydrated.

[0016]

According to the present invention, the direction of the hose body is oriented by a simple operation in which the holder for accommodating the bellows portion is rotated by utilizing the bending deformability of the bellows portion of the hose body without removing the hose body. Can be changed. Further, the direction of the hose body can be changed over 360 ° by a simple operation of rotating the holder.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of a drain hose of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a mounted state and a changed direction state of the drain hose shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a washing machine to which a drain hose is attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Hose body 2 ... Mounting part 3 ... First annular sliding contact portion 4 ... the first bellows 5 ... Second annular sliding contact portion 10 ... Holder 11a, 11b ... Holder member 12 ... Hinge part 13a, 13b ... Curved recess 14a, 14b ... Sliding part 15a, 15b ... Sliding part 17a, 18a ... Locking holes 17b, 18b ... claws

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-5-79581 (JP, A) JP-A-7-68084 (JP, A) Actually open 5-1486 (JP, U) Actually open 3- 111284 (JP, U) Japanese Patent Publication 4-42040 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) D06F 1/00-51/02

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A bellows portion and the hose body having an annular sliding portion formed on both sides of the bellows portion, said annular sliding contact portion of the bellows part to together as can accommodate a substantially L-shaped a drain hose which is composed of a holder having a slidable sliding portion in the circumferential direction against, with the rotation of the holder
Between the sliding contact part of the hose body and the sliding part of the holder.
Direction of the hose body that slides in one direction and has one end fixed
A drain hose that can be converted . 2. The holder is composed of a pair of holder members that can be opened and closed in a hinged manner, and the holder member has a curved concave portion capable of accommodating the bellows portion of the hose body in a substantially L shape, and both sides of the curved concave portion. It is formed in part, and slidable sliding portion against the annular sliding contact portion of the hose body and the drainage of the pair of Hol da member and a closure means for closing and claim 1, wherein the hose. 3. The drainage hose according to claim 1, wherein the drainage hose has a connecting portion that can be connected to the drainage port , and the holder accommodates the bellows portion by loosely fitting it . 4. A structure for converting the extending direction of a hose body having a bellows portion and one end fixed, wherein annular sliding contact portions are formed on both sides of the bellows portion of the hose body. It is, together with the sliding portion slidable is formed on the holder in the circumferential direction with respect to the annular sliding contact portion, the bellows portion is accommodated in the substantially L-shaped in a curved recess of the holder, the ho
As the rudder rotates, the sliding contact part of the hose body and the holder
Slides in the circumferential direction to the hoof whose one end is fixed.
Hose direction changing structure that can change the extension direction of the main body . 5. The hose direction changing structure according to claim 4, wherein one end of the hose body is fixed to a drain port of the washing machine.